For Hometown News
SEBASTIAN - The Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce held its sixth annual "Grill Out Night" on Aug. 3.
Members of the community were invited to visit local businesses that offered free food, beverages, prizes, give-ways, coupons and more.
Grill Out Night is the summertime version of "Light Up Night" the chamber sponsors in December.
The event serves as a way to encourage the community to come learn about the local businesses during the summer, as well as give the businesses a chance to show their appreciation for their clients, customers and the community.
The event also showcased a papaya contest, challenging the businesses to create unique and delicious papaya dishes and beautiful papaya carvings.
Secret judges were sent around to savor all the papaya goodies and to check out the creative sculptures. They judged based on taste, creativity and originality.
The winners were: first- place taste, St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church for their huge spread of papaya delicacies, including papaya wontons.
Second-place taste was Best Western Hotel for its papaya H'ordeuvres.
Third-place taste went to Crab E Bill's Seafood for its papaya chutney.
First-place creativity was Sherri's Floral Shoppe for its carved papaya flower vase.
Second place went to RE/MAX Crown Realty for its papaya display with birds of paradise and papaya people.
Third place went to Oculina Bank for its Oculina logo carved in papaya.
First-place originality went to Del's Barber Shop and Salon for its papaya bruschetta and papaya rice pudding.
Second place went to Carnival Confections for its homemade papaya and banana cake.
Third place went to Paradise Ice Cream for its papaya ice cream sandwiches.