In a surprise win, the Northern Mariana Islands took home the first-place trophy in Roll Call’s “A Taste of America” competition Tuesday night.
The contest pitted favorite foods from U.S. states and territories against each other. A fight to the death! OK, not really. Voters just had to fill out the bracket a la the NCAA basketball tourney.
The food Final Four included the Nebraska runza (doughy pocket of beefy goodness), Georgia peaches, Maine lobster and — the winner — Northern Mariana Island apigigi (pronounced ah-pi-geeh-geeh). For the curious, apigigi is young coconut meat, fresh coconut milk and tapioca wrapped in a banana leaf, steamed and then grilled.
Del. Gregorio Sablan (D-Northern Mariana Islands) and his office were on hand to celebrate the win.
Also spotted at the event were Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson (R) and celeb chef Spike Mendelsohn. Chef Spike and We, the Pizza supplied the place, the pizzas and the special dishes. The guys from ChurchKey slung the brews. Runzas were even flown in direct from Nebraska. A tasty time was had by all!
Lois Lerner, director of exempt organizations for the IRS, arrives for a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the investigation of the IRS' targeting of political groups. Lerner invoked her Fifth Amendment right to not testify and caused a protest from some committee members when she offered an opening statement and engaged in dialogue with members before invoking the right.
Roll Call has launched a new feature, Hill Navigator, to advise congressional staffers and would-be staffers on how to manage workplace issues on Capitol Hill. Please send us your questions — anything from office etiquette, to handling awkward moments, to what happens when the work life gets too personal. Submissions will be treated anonymously.
