Dutch Valley Days to include strawberry dessert contest by Victoria Frank

  • Victoria Frank
  • May 31, 2010
  • 515
                        
Last September, Dutch Valley Gifts and Furniture held a homemade cheesecake contest during their annual Fall Festival. Over 21 individuals participated, proving that baking contests were something worth having during the celebratory weekend. And on Saturday, June 19, Dutch Valley will host yet another contest worth entering – the Dutch Valley Days strawberry dessert contest. “In the fall, we had the cheesecake contest and it was a huge success,” Andrea Erb of Dutch Valley Gifts and Furniture said. “So we tried to figure out what would be in season, and right now in Ohio, it’s homegrown strawberry time. We thought it would be something readily available to the baker, but also delicious.” The contest will be held at 2 p.m. and is open to anyone in the area that believes they have a winning strawberry dessert recipe. The only requirement for the contest is that no store bought box mixes or desserts are used. Pre-registration is suggested, but not mandatory. Participants can register via entry forms at Dutch Valley Gifts and Furniture or online at www.dhgroup.com. Registration can happen anytime before 1:45 the day of the contest. Individuals can also enter more than one dessert, however, a separate form must be given for each entry and the dessert must remain uncut at the time of the contest. “It’s kind of wide-open. You can enter anything.” Erb said. “We are waiting to see the range of desserts.” There will be four judges that will taste a small bite of each recipe during the contest. Two will be confectionary professionals from local bakeries and two will be corporate representatives. Entries will be judged on a one to five scale, with five being the highest, on such criteria as taste, appearance, creativity, consumer appeal, and originality of recipe. Perhaps the best part of the contest, aside from the friendly competition, is the prizes to be won. Every participant receives a 10 percent off coupon to Dutch Valley Restaurant and a 20 percent off single-purchase coupon for Dutch Valley Gifts and Furniture or Dutch Valley Market. Third place receives a $25 gift certificate to Dutch Valley Gifts and Furniture, while second place receives a $50 gift card for anywhere on the Dutch Valley complex. Grand prize is a painted wooden porch rocker. In order to win, the baker must be present and receive the highest score according to the judges. Dutch Valley Gifts and Furniture hopes to create a tradition out of the cooking contests and make them a pivotal part of Dutch Valley Days and the Fall Festival each year.


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