Politicians compete, patrons eat to meet charity goals

[img_assist|nid=5598|title=Click on photo to enlarge or download|desc=Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, explains his dish, Basque stuffed piquillo peppers, to a diner. The appetizer contained no potatoes. Photo by Paul Kita|link=popup|align=right|width=250|height=188]WASHINGTON - Twisting their role of serving the public, politicians loosened their ties and tightened their aprons Tuesday in a celebrity cook-off that raised almost $1.2 million for charity.