The audience couldn’t decide wish dish it liked better.

Was it the spicy catfish bites that perfectly toed the line between flavorful and hot?

Or was it the apple cobbler that practically begged for a second helping?

Saundria Wilson did not seem to mind the crowd’s indecision.

After all, she submitted both dishes in the 2015 Taste of Soul: Heritage Recipe Cook-Off held Saturday at the Niles District Library.

Both wound up tying for first place.

“It came out well and I’m glad people enjoyed what I made,” said the Niles woman.

The secret to Wilson’s catfish bites is a pinch of Cajun seasoning mixed in with the cornmeal breading.

“It gives it a little kick, but it doesn’t burn,” Wilson said, adding that “a lot of butter” helped her cobbler stand out above the other desserts.

“Cobblers are good soul food. They stretch and it is warm and it

is filling.”

Approximately 60 people attended the third annual cook-off held jointly by the Niles chapter of the NAACP and the Niles District Library.

The event featured a unique blend of 26 different dishes cooked up in the kitchens of local people.

“I think the event turned out great,” said Georgia Boggs, one of the event coordinators. “We had a lot of people come out and there was a lot of good food.”

In addition to the cook-off, the event featured speeches, songs and poetry all originating from African American people, culture and history.

The Niles NAACP meets at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month in the community room of the Niles District Library.

Cook-off results:

1. (tie) — Spicy catfish bits by Saundria Wilson

1. (tie) — Apple cobbler by Saundria Wilson

2. Stew peas with mean by Violet Webb

3. (tie) — Mustard greens by Georgia Boggs

3. (tie) — Sweet potato pie by Flowers Jenkins