Competitors at the 2013 Grilled Cheese Throwdown were set up indoors and outdoors at 5th and Wine in Scottsdale.

Few things taste as good to me as a gooey grilled cheese sandwich.

So I was excited to attend the 2013 Grilled Cheese Throwdown on Sunday at 5th and Wine in Old Scottsdale. Chefs from 10 restaurants and specialty food vendors presented their takes on the classic comfort food. Attendees got to vote for their favorites.

The Olive & Ivy table was this blogger’s favorite stop.

Chefs being chefs – and Scottsdale being Scottsdale – some of the mini-sandwiches were a bit fancy for my taste. I mean, really, I don’t need duck in my grilled cheese. After making the rounds, I cast my vote for the sandwich from Olive & Ivy – caciocavallo and havarti cheeses along with bacon-like pork belly on grilled foccacia.

Alas, my foodie credentials are pretty weak. The House at Secret Garden won first prize. District American Kitchen & Wine Bar took second, followed by the hosts from 5th and Wine.

Olive & Ivy’s entry.

I found out about the Grilled Cheese Throwdown on social media: I received a message on Facebook that a friend of mine was going. It looked pretty cool, so I signed up myself. It’s a good thing I acted quickly, because the event sold out. At the venue, a sign requested that guests use the hashtag #GCTD2013 in their tweets.

The event was organized by Susie Timm, a marketing and strategic communications professional who focuses on restaurants, gourmet products and the food and beverage industry. The crowd was a mix of foodies and marketing/PR/social media types.

Other competitors represented AJ’s Fine Foods, Noble Bread Co., Hot Dish Inc., 24 Carrots Juice, Hotel Valley Ho and Taggia at Kimpton’s FireSky Resort & Spa.

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Tags: 24 Carrots Juice, 5th and Wine, AJ’s Fine Foods, District American Kitchen & Wine Bar, Facebook, Grilled Cheese Throwdown, Hot Dish Inc., Hotel Valley Ho, Kimpton’s FireSky Resort & Spa, Noble Bread Co., Olive & Ivy, Scottsdale, Susie Timm, The House at Secret Garden