The Jook-Off: A Cook-Off for Pups & People

Comfort food meets comfort dogs. Two nonprofit leaders face off in a jook cook-off for pups and their humans. Jook — the rice porridge known across Asian communities as congee, cháo, lugaw, or juk — is comfort food in the truest sense. It's what you make when someone's sick, sure, but it's just as often what you make for a Sunday morning, a family gathering, or just because. This October, we're bringing that spirit of comfort and togetherness to Muttville for an afternoon celebrating care in all its forms — for people, and for the dogs who love them. Our cook-off has a twist: the "chefs" aren't professional cooks. They're the two people leading the organizations behind this event — Orchid Pusey, Executive Director of Asian Women's Shelter, and Dr. Tracy Huang, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Vets in Vans. Each will bring their own pot of jook, and you'll help decide whose is best. There will be jook for the humans and jook for the dogs, plus fun activities. Bring your pup, bring your appetite, and spend an hour supporting two organizations working, in very different ways, to make sure everyone — survivors, families, and the animals they love — has access to the care they need. *All dogs attending must be up-to-date on their vaccinations. All proceeds support the shared work of Asian Women's Shelter and Vets in Vans.