The judges have returned their verdict

After extensive deliberations over tax day menus, both pathetic and mouth-watering, we have selected the winners:

The winner of our Blaues Wunder centerfold is Julia:

I owe $8939 to the Internal Revenue Service, and $806 to the Franchise tax board (California). Tax day deserves a special meal around here to liven things up. For an avid cheese lover, that's cheese fondue. Melted cheese at its' finest. I'll probably make the traditional fondue; with Gruyère & Emmental cheeses, a touch of white wine, and garlic rubbed on the pot before cooking. Before the fondue I will have a mixed baby green salad with feta cheese, pine nuts, sunflower seeds and black olives. For dessert I will have a bowl of blueberries and cubed sharp cheddar.

Roland noted her commitment to eating local, and admired her thrift: "Her talk of the Day of Fondue sounds like it could be a day of tasty fun especially if she does it by scratch. The bit on TJ's was a nice tip as well, one I'll have to try."

Cindy was also impressed by Julia's locavore tendences (see their exchange regarding blueberries), and again, thrift played a major part in the win: "Half of the experience of fondue is the ritual and it sounds like the ritual of saving money has served you well for Tax Day."

Barbara adds, "Julia, obviously knows her way around a cheeseboard! No better way to melt away the thought of forking over almost 10k to the government than fondue. Congratulations!"

The frugal flight of aged goat cheeses went to contestant Jim Young:

I've run the numbers up, down and sideways and all I have to say is they don't look good. So what better way to lift my spirits than to take those large checks (Fed and CA) and instead of sending them to the taxman sending them to my foie gras guy, my cheese lady, my wine purveyor and some shady guy in the alley with a deep Russian accent selling caviar. Well just the thought made my arteries seize up so instead I've bought two tickets to Bordeaux for some wine tasting instead. Maybe I’ll get a piece cheese too...

"Jim kept a sense of humor on tax day," Barbara noted, "and, you can't go wrong with wine, cheese, and caviar!"

Cindy: "If Jim is trying to bribe the judges (as in "me") with a ticket to Bordeaux - then his entry is looking pretty good."

Roland: "I think Jim should get the frugal prize because how bad can you feel for the guy? Plus I am not getting to go to Bordeaux."

Runners up cheezifyouplz, dbcurrie, and Julia, do not dispair. To honor your frugal cheeseparing ways, you will each receive Boska brand cheese curlers. These devices can handily slice any firm wheel (especially, but not limited to Tete de Moine) into delectable, feathery ribbons, allowing you to economize by buying in bulk, but consuming in moderation. Winners will get the curlers, too!

Photo by Josh Thompson.