Hollister
– It is not too late to enter the Second Annual 2006 San Benito
County Fair Amazing Apple and Decadent Chocolate Dessert
Contest.
Hollister – It is not too late to enter the Second Annual 2006 San Benito County Fair Amazing Apple and Decadent Chocolate Dessert Contest.
Despite the official entry deadline of Sept. 1 for all fair entries, Elaine Littlejohn, chairwoman of the Home Arts Department, will allow stragglers to enter their desserts up to 30 minutes before the contest begins at 3pm Saturday. Ribbons and plaques are awarded to first-, second- and third-place contestants in each category as well as a People’s Choice winner. Choc-olate and apples are the featured in-gredients be-cause of their versatility.
“There’s just many, many, many things people can do with apples and chocolate,” Littlejohn said.
The 2005 contest had a good showing for a first-time event, Littlejohn said. Six contestants participated with 11 entries total.
Chris Perreira, director of development for Compassion Pregnancy Services in Hollister, entered both the chocolate and apple dessert competitions with her mother, Maxine Tibbs, in 2005.
“I’m not a good cook,” Perreira said. “But I like to bake.”
Perreira combined two recipes to make a caramel apple pie and another two recipes to make a layered chocolate cake with fresh raspberries. She said she had fun leading up to the competition comparing recipes with her mother.
The late entry for the 2006 competition will allow Perreira, who was out of town during the deadline for regular fair entries, to participate again this year.
Judges for the 2006 contest already have some ideas in mind for what the winning entry will look and taste like.
Annie Agah has been baking for more than 20 years and has owned Veranda Cafe for three years. She looks for specifics in both apple and chocolate desserts.
“In chocolate I’m looking for a real chocolate flavor that doesn’t taste artificial, that makes me think of high-quality chocolate,” Agah said.
Agah said she looks for smoothness, balance of sweetness and presentation in the chocolate category. For the apple desserts, she looks for sweetness balanced with tart flavors.
Judges for the 2006 contests include Agah, Michelle Sores and Cynthia Thatcher, former owner of the Elegant Touch.
“We try to take people who really know their stuff in regards to baking,” Littlejohn said.
Contestants should bring their desserts to the Home Arts Department located on the Pavilion Veranda between 1:30 and 2:30pm for registration Saturday. For additional information, please contact the San Benito County Fair at (831) 628-3421.
Michael Van Cassell covers Public Safety and Agriculture for the Free Lance. He can be reached at (831) 637-5566 ext. 335
