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The Internet's premier Web site
dedicated to competitive cooking and recipe contests
Established in 1997
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Welcome to the Cooking Contest Central Hall of Fame. This page is dedicated to those cooks who have strived to pique the palate -- and garner large cash prizes -- by creating the recipes that win the contests.
So, raise a mixing spoon in honor of these dedicated recipe contesters.
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Bob & Edwina Gadsby
2009 Inductees
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Bob and Edwina Gadsby both grew up in southern
California and were influenced in many ways by that state. When they met,
Edwina was an Accountant with the San Diego City Treasurer’s office and Bob
was a U.S. Customs Officer at the world’s busiest land border port of entry.
Immediately after getting married, they left San Diego and settled in the
rural Inland Northwest, eventually ending up in Montana. Bob works as a
Branch Chief with Customs and Border Protection (part of the Department of
Homeland Security), and Edwina is currently a homemaker and does volunteer
work. They share their home with Beau, a chocolate Labrador Retriever and
will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary this year.
How Did You First Get Into Contesting? Edwina stumbled
into contesting one morning in 1994 while reading Country Living magazine.
For some reason an announcement for a recipe contest caught her eye. While
she has always loved to cook, she had never considered entering "cooking
contests". She regarded them with the same skepticism as sweepstakes (does
anyone ever really win these?). This one beckoned to her, as the grand prize
was an all expense paid trip to a well-known bed and breakfast in Vermont.
Visiting Vermont in the fall had always been a dream of the Gadsby's. The
sponsor, Land O’Lakes, was looking for an original breakfast recipe. To
Edwina’s surprise, her Apple Cinnamon French Toast won the grand prize. That
was it, she was hooked!
A few months later, Bob (a good cook in his own right) tried
his hand at contesting. Jim Beam Brands sponsored a contest called "Bourboncuing
with Booker"; Booker Noe is the grandson of Jim Beam. Bob’s unusual Peach of
a Bourbon Basting Sauce won them a trip to Kentucky where Bob barbecued in
Booker’s back yard, and took first place in the sauce category. Now they
were both hooked!
Most Satisfying Win: The Gadsby's are constantly amazed
at the unique adventures contesting has presented them. They have (twice)
barbecued with Jim Beam’s grandson in Bardstown, Kentucky (where they
learned the true meaning of southern hospitality). They have each been a
finalist at one of Southern Living magazines’ fabulous destination
cook-offs, where Bob shared the stage with Al Roker and Edwina with Tyler
Florence. They have worked side by side with the staff of Cooking Light
magazine in their test kitchen. They were wined and dined at the Rainbow
Room in NYC by Paul Newman (screen legend and great humanitarian), talk
about a fantasy coming true! Bob was a judge at the Jack Daniel’s World
Championship Invitational Barbecue in Lynchburg, Tennessee. They enjoyed a
fabulous Cape Cod getaway in picturesque Sandwich, Massachusetts courtesy of
the Louis Rich "Make Your Own Sandwich" contest. Edwina prepared her "prize
winning" dessert on national television on the now defunct ABC "Mike & Maty
Show" (a chauffeur and limousine met them at the airport and whisked them
off to their suite at a luxurious hotel in Beverly Hills). John Harrison
(Mr. Ice Cream) gave them an exclusive tour of the Dreyer’s ice cream plant
in Houston, Texas and then Edwina prepared her "Cinn-ful Pecan Caramel Ice
Cream" in their lab. They have enjoyed Fetzer and Sutter Home Wineries in
northern California and have had their recipes published in almost every
major lifestyle magazine and posted on web sites (like Rachel Ray).
Bob and Edwina have won cash, trips, and enough appliances
to outfit family and friends for years to come. The most unexpected "reward"
has been all the wonderful people they have had the opportunity to meet.
Many of their cook-off "competitors" are now life-long friends. "People seem
surprised by the sharing aspect of this hobby. Many tend to think cook-offs
are cut throat competitions, and are quite surprised to learn most of us
regard them more like family reunions." said Bob. "We personally view
cook-offs as opportunities to visit with old friends and make new ones. We
contesters love to share information with one another, and try to encourage
and inspire one another. We realize we can’t win every contest and are
sincerely thrilled when a friend takes the grand prize." he said.
Bob always says his most satisfying win was the Paul Newman
contest where he won $10,000 for the charity of his choice. He split it
between a small volunteer fire department and a rural library.
After many wins (and even more losses) the Gadsby's are
still as enthusiastic about this hobby as they were in the beginning. Each
new contest presents a new challenge. "It is the creative aspect of
contesting that excites us and knowing that we are only limited by our
imaginations. We have been exceedingly lucky, but most of all, we’ve had
tremendous fun!" said Edwina.
Notable Wins
Edwina’s Wins:
1994
Grand Prize: Country Living/Land O’Lakes Butter - Trip
for 2 to B&B in Vermont
2nd Prize: Quaker Oats - $1,000
1st Prize: Orville Redenbacher’s Popcorn Contest -
$1,500
Runner Up: Newman’s Own - $1,000 donated to charity
1st Prize: Better Homes & Gardens – Monthly
Grand Prize: ABC’s Mike & Maty Show -Trip for 2 to Los
Angeles to appear on show
1995
1st Prize: Green Giant Rush Hour Recipes - $1,000
1st Prize: M&M’s Brighter Baking - video camera
4th Place: National Chicken Cook-Off - Finalist for
Montana + $2,000
Grand Prize: Marzetti’s Caramel Apple Dip - $500 +
silver engraved serving tray
Grand Prize: Sonoma Dried Tomatoes/McCall’s - $5,000
1st Prize: Better Homes & Gardens – Monthly
Finalist: Fetzer Winery’s Great Salad Toss - Trip for 2
to Sonoma for cook-off
Grand Prize: Kellogg’s Low Fat Granola - $5,000
2nd Prize: Woman’s Day/Franco American - $2,000
1st Prize: Quaker Oats - $2,000
1996
Finalist: Pillsbury Bake-Off - Trip to Dallas, Texas to
compete
1st Prize: National Pork Producers Council - $750
1st Prize: Kretschmer Wheat Germ - $1,000
Grand Prize: National Turkey Federation - $2,000
Grand Prize: Fiber One Cereal - $1,500
Grand Prize: Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry - $500
1st Prize: Mushroom Council - $2,000
2nd Prize: Sutter "Build A Better Burger" Contest -
$3,000
1st Prize: Luv Salmon - $500
1st Prize: Better Homes & Gardens - Monthly – $400
1997
Finalist: Cooking Light 10th Anniversary Cook-Off - Trip
to Birmingham, AL
1st Prize: Kretschmer Wheat Germ - $1,000
1st Prize: PACE - $1,000
(2) 1st Prizes: Fiber One Cereal – (Breads): $1,000 +
(Main Dish): $1,000
Runner Up: Southern Living Holiday - $250 (recipe in Dec
1997 issue)
Grand Prize: Louis Rich Sandwich Contest - $15,000 +
Trip for 2 to Sandwich, MA\
Grand Prize: Butterball Turkey - $500
Grand Finalist: Mama Mary’s - Trip for 2 to Disney World
for cook-off
Grand Prize: Woman’s Day/Canned Food Council - $4,000
Grand Prize: Woman’s Day/Velveeta - $5,000
1998
Category Wnner: Pillsbury Bake-Off - $10,000 + AccuRange Oven
Grand Prize: Bolla Wine - Salad Category - $2,000 + trip
to Las Vegas
1st Prize: Sargento Cheese - $2,500
3rd Place: Goldkist Chicken – appliances, cookware and
$500
1st Prize: Dunnewood Wine - Trip for 2 to NYC + $500
1999
Finalist: National Chicken Cook-off - Trip to Dallas, TX
to compete
1st Prize: CHEX/General Mills - $2,000
2nd Prize: Sue Bee Honey - $1,000
Grand Prize: GoldKist Chicken - LaVarenne at the
Greenbriar, $1,000 + appliances
Grand Prize: Gameday Cheese - Trip for 2 to Maui Hula
Bowl + $500
Honorable Mention: BH&G/Recipe of the Century - recipe
featured in Feb. 2000 issue
1st Prize: Honey Maid Grahams S’mores Contest - $500
Eddie Bauer gift certificate
Grand Prize: Weber Gourmet Grilling Contest - Trip to
Hong Kong and Bangkok
2000
2nd Prize: National Fisheries Institute - $1,000
1st Prize: Heavenly Ham - $300 Pampered Chef gift cert.+
$100 heavenly ham
Finalist: USA Rice Federation - $1,000
Grand Prize: Woman’s Day/Hansen’s soda - Trip to Napa
Valley + $2,500
2001
3rd Prize: Farmer John "Go Hog Wild" - $500
Runner Up: Southern Living/Holiday - $500
1st Prize: Morningstar - $500
1st Prize: Dreyer’s Ice Cream - Trip for 2 to Houston to visit ice cream
"lab" + year’s supply of ice cream + "Special Flavor Recognition" $1,500
award
3rd Prize: T-Fal - $500 worth of T-Fal merchandise
2002
Grand Prize: Lawry’s "Soul Food" Showtime - $3,000 + trip for 2 to Los
Angeles
1st Prize: Ortega - $750 worth of Fiesta ware
Grand Prize: Post Selects Cereal - $1,000
Grand Prize: Baker’s Chocolate - $500 + case of chocolate
2003
1st Prize: Equal Sweetener - $3,000
Grand Prize: Louisiana Hot Sauce - $5,000
Finalist: IGA - Trip for 2 to Chicago to compete
1st Prize: PACE - $500
Finalist: McCormick Blend to Win - $500 + spice rack
Grand Prize: Hershey’s Holiday Creations Contest - $5,000 - Craft Division
Finalist: National Beef - Trip to Ft. Worth, TX to compete
Grand Prize: Bays English Muffins - $500 Williams-Sonoma gift certificate
2004
2nd Prize: Blue Bonnet Chocolate Chip Cookies - $500
Grand Prize: Stonyfield Farms Yogurt/Cooking Light - Trip for 2 to San
Francisco + week course at Tante Marie’s cooking school
1st Prize: Philadelphia Cream Cheese /Kraft - $2,500
1st Prize: Jell-O/Cool Whip Family Celebrations - $1,000
1st Prize: Quaker Oats Ultimate Oatmeal Cookie - $1,000
2nd Prize: Pork No-Recipe Contest - $600 + merchandise
Finalist: Rice to the Rescue - $1,000
2005
Grand Prize: Sunkist Citrus Challenge - $2,000 + year’s supply Sunkist
fruits
Finalist: National Beef Cook-off - Trip to Rapid City, SD to compete
Finalist: Sunset Magazine "Thanksgiving in the West"
2006
Finalist: Rice to the Rescue - $1,000 + rice cooker
Category Winner: Southern Living Cook-off - $10,000 + trip for 2 to
Charleston
Rachael Ray Burger Bash - Burger featured on RR’s website
2007
Finalist: National Chicken Cook-off - Trip to Birmingham, AL to compete
2008
Grand Prize: Mezzetta Makes the Sandwich - $25,000 + trip for 2 to Napa
Valley
Grand Prize: Rias Baixas - $1,000 Williams-Sonoma gift certificate, case of
wine, cookbooks, etc.
3rd Prize: Columbia Crest Flayvors of WA – picnic basket, cookbooks, etc.
National Chicken State Winner - $100
Bob’s Wins:
1st Prize: Jim Beam "Bourbonquing with Booker" - $500 + trip for 2 to
Bardstown, Kentucky
1st Prize: Newman’s Own - Trip to New York City, lunch with Paul Newman +
$10,000 to charity
Grand Prize: Sonoma Dried Tomatoes/McCall’s - $5,000
Finalist: 1998 Pillsbury Bake-off - trip to Orlando, FL to compete
1st Prize: Jim Beam 2nd "Bourbonquing with Booker" - $750 + trip for 2 to
Bardstown, Kentucky
1st Prize: National Pork Producers Council - $1,500
3rd Prize: National Pork Producers Council - $500
Daily Winner: Sutter Home "Build a Better Burger" - $100
1st Prize: Polly-O Cheese - $500
Grand Prize: Jack Daniel’s - Trip for 2 to Lynchburg, Tennessee + Judge at
Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational BBQ + Weber grill
1st Prize: 2001 National Chicken Cook-off in Sacramento - $25,000 + GE
Refrigerator
Finalist: Farmer John "Go Hog Wild" – Trip to Santa Monica, CA to compete +
Award of Excellence $250
Finalist: 2001 National Beef Cook-off - Trip to Tucson, Arizona to compete
Finalist: McCormick’s Blend to Win - $500 plus customized spice rack
Finalist: 2002 Southern Living Cook-off - Trip for 2 to Orlando, Florida to
compete + $1,000.
Finalist: 2005 Cooking Light Readers Recipe Contest - Trip to Birmingham,
Alabama to compete (during Hurricane Katrina!)
1st Prize: Emeril’s Kick it up a Notch - 10 piece set of Emerilware
Runner Up: Coast to Coast California Raisin - $250 Williams-Sonoma gift
certificate
Finalist: USA RICE "Rev Up Your Rice" - $1,000 plus rice cooker
Grand Prize: Old Dutch Royal Recipe Contest – Trip for 2 to Minneapolis,
Minnesota
1st Prize: Pork Grilling Grates - Weber grill
Finalist: 2008 Pillsbury Bake-off - Trip to Dallas, Texas to compete
Finalist: Smithfield/Paula Deen
Advice to Other Contesters: We’re often asked what is
the secret to winning. The simple answer is that there is none. Go with your
instinct and don’t spend too much time over-thinking a recipe or trying to
develop the perfect strategy. Above all, have fun. If you go to every
cook-off expecting to win you’ll come away disappointed; if you go because
you enjoy cooking and like to meet and share the experience with others of
the same heart, you will always come away a winner.
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Camilla Saulsbury
2008 Inductee
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Camilla Saulsbury: I grew up in California
and started cooking when I was very little; my first cookbook had all of the
recipes set to familiar songs, cementing the idea in my little head that cooking
is a lot of fun. I found CCC a few decades later in January 1999; I had recently
had two recipes published in the readers’ sections of magazines and, inspired by
my $20 wins (a fortune in graduate school) searched the web for other contest
listings. From there I started sending in recipes to a variety of small
contests; the thrill of any little win, honorable mention, free potholder, or
coupons was enough to keep me going. But it wasn’t until I made it to the finals
of the Build a Better Burger Contest that fall, where I met seasoned contesters
Julie DeMatteo, Wolfgang Hanau, Patricia Schroedl and Francis Benthin, that I
found out about the “world” of contesting. I was both terrified and excited
about joining the ranks, but also hooked from then on out. Contesting has had
such a profound influence on me that it actually led to my changing careers
(from sociologist to food writer). I have met so many wonderful people through
contesting, but I owe the greatest thanks to Betty and Ady for running this
website and quite literally changing my life.
NOTABLE WINS:
• $100,000 National Chicken Cook-off (2005)
• $50,000 Build a Better Burger Contest (2006)
• $25,000 Ultimate Recipe Showdown—Cookies (2008)
• $20,000 “What Do You Do with Your Pace” Salsa Contest (2002)
• $10,000 Post Selects Brunch Contest (2001)
• Grand Prize, Better Homes & Gardens Annual Readers’ Recipe Contest (2002)
• Grand Prize, Gilroy Garlic Festival (2000)
• Grand Prize, Vegetarian Times Soy Contest (2000)
• Grand Prize Steinfeld’s Sauerkraut Contest (double win in desert & entrée
categories) (2006)
• Finalist: Cooking Light Cook-Off 2005, Southern Living Cook-Off (2002 & 2004),
Build a Better Burger (1999),
National Cornbread Cook-Off (2002), Food Network
Seafood Cook-Off (2005), PBS Masterchef (2001)
FAVORITE WIN: The Gilroy Garlic Festival Cook-Off. It was my first
cook-off win and, because it’s a short drive from where I grew up, my entire
family was in the audience to share it with me.
FUNNIEST WIN: A case of pickled beets. According to my husband “beets are
never a prize.”
BIGGEST CONTESTING THRILL: Meeting Roxanne Chan at the 2005 National
Chicken Cookoff. Roxanne and I are from the same hometown (Albany, CA). My
mother and I had been Roxanne devotees decades before I knew anything about
contesting because her recipes were routinely featured in my mother’s two
favorite magazines, Better Homes & Gardens and Sunset (she still has about
twenty of Roxanne’s clipped recipes in her recipe box). As it turns out, Roxanne
is even more wonderful than her brilliant recipes.
ADVICE: If you’re new to contesting, enter the small contests first; the
odds are in your favor and getting any kind of acknowledgement will spur you on.
Don’t be afraid to re-use favorite flavors or flavor combinations if they have
worked for you in other wins (and/or if you simply think they are great). For
example, if your innovative spin on Indian food worked in a rice contest, try
the same flavor profile in a chicken, burger, or (hey, why not?) a cookie
contest (chocolate chip cookies with curry anybody?).
FORUM NAME: Camilla
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Jenny Flake
2007 Inductee
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Jenny Flake- I was born and raised in AZ. I’ve been married for 10 years
and have 2 cute little boys. I didn’t get started cooking until about 7 years
ago when we moved into our first new home. I had no idea what I was doing so I
watched A LOT of Food Network and started reading and collecting cookbooks. Come
to find out, I really enjoyed it. Late 2003 I came across a Pillsbury Bake-off
that was shown on Food Network. After watching the show, I was completely
motivated to try to make it as a finalist in the next bake-off. I spent hours
researching past bake-offs online and got to working on my creations. I could
hardly believe I was chosen as a Finalist in 2004. It was an experience I’ll
never forget and have been contesting ever since. I am so glad I fell into this
fun hobby, I have met so many great new friends and find it challenging and
exciting!
NOTABLE WINS:
• Finalist in Pillsbury Bake-off 2004, 2006.
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Finalist Build a Better Burger 2004, 2nd Place Winner in 2006.
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Grand Prize win for Bays “Pizza Pronto” contest 2004. Won $500 Gift Card to
William Sonoma
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Grand Prize Win for Mama Mary’s Pizza Contest 2004. Won Disney World Trip and
$5000
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Finalist in National Cornbread Cook-off, 2005.
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GP Finalist in Tillamook AZ Regional Mac and Cheese and 2nd Place Winner @
National Cookoff 2006.
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Grand Prize Win for Stir the Pot with Harry Soup Contest 2006.
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Grand Prize Win for Elsie’s Borden Cheese Contest, 2006. $5000 kitchen make-over
and Chef Dinner
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2nd Place Win for Cooks Like A Californian Chicken Contest, 2006. Won $1500
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Grand Prize Win for Light and Tasty Bountiful Brunch Contest April/May 2007. Won
$600
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Finalist in National Chicken Cook-off, 2007.
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Grand Prize Winner for Martha White Cornbread Cookoff for April 28th, 2007.
Recipe: Chicken Taco
Cornbread Wedges with Ranchero Cilantro Drizzle. $5000 and
a 5 Star stainless steel gas range
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Finalist for the Food Network’s Ultimate Recipe Showdown Comfort Food August
2007
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Finalist and Category Winner for Southern Living cook-off 2007 $10,000
BEST SURPRISE WIN: During my first year of contesting, I created a pizza
recipe for the Mama Mary’s Pizza Contest and sent it in on a whim without trying
it out. First, I won as a Semi-finalist and then later found out I won the Grand
Prize for a trip to Disney World and $5000. My family thought I was joking.
ADVICE: Don’t let your losses get you down. Turn right back around and
focus on another contest. Aside from large cook-offs, don’t be afraid to
enter recipes that you haven’t practiced in the kitchen. Some of my best wins
have come from recipes that were just cooked up in my mind! Also, find a system
that will keep your contesting organized. Whether it be on the computer or on
paper, keep it organized!
FORUM NAME: Jenny Flake
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Anna Ginsberg
2006 Inductee
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Anna Ginsberg won the BIG ONE which was a thrill not only for her and her family but for all her friends at CCC
as well. Walking away with the Million Dollar prize at the 2006 Pillsbury
Bake-off was something that Anna had been working on for a long time. The
Austin, TX homemaker is a very experienced contester. For Pillsbury, she won the Grand Prize in the "Cooking for Two" category with her baked chicken with spinich stuffing that used a package of Pillsbury Dunkables, frozen waffle sticks, to make stuffing and used the syrup that comes with the waffles as a sauce. She created the recipe specifically for the Bake-off.
Anna said she began her cooking career when she wasn’t much older than Emma, as a 6-year-old daughter. She was a "latchkey kid" who had to be home alone each day until her parents returned from work. She grew up in Houston and San Antonio and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin.
As for her Pillsbury winnings: She said, "I am so amazed at all this money, I'm not sure what to do with it. The first thing she bought was a new curling iron and some star fruit. "It's still kind of a shock to think I could buy
anything I want. Our little joke before the contest was that if I won, I'd buy my daughter a bouncy house like they have at Toys R Us. So that was the first thing we did when we got home."
" My daughter will start school in the fall and before this I was thinking about going back to work. Now I don't have to. Maybe I'll use some of it to remodel my kitchen so I can use all the new appliances I won. Right now, it's just too much to think about, so I'm just going to bake some cookies.
"Her advice for fellow contesters is to send in a lot of recipes.
"I usually send about 50 to Pillsbury, 30 to Southern Living and between 1 and 5
to others," she said. "For the California Raisins contest, though, I just sent
one.
"Also, try to do something creative. I like to eat out a lot and really study what the chefs are doing because they are always on the cutting edge of trends.
Then I try to do it at home, but make streamlined versions using foods that are prepackaged or in a mix."
NOTABLE WINS: Last year, she netted $10,000 in the California Raisins
contest and recently won $500 in the "Mix It Up With Betty," a Betty Crocker
contest using cake mix and $2,500 in a cheesecake contest. These
were in addition to the Million Dollar prize at the 2006 Pillsbury Bake-off
noted above.
FUTURE BAKE-OFFS: "I guess my career with Pillsbury is over now," she said. "I've been working at winning this one for a long time. It's the biggest, after all. But once you win, you can't enter again."
Our bet is we will be hearing from Anna for a long time to come.
ADVICE: "Send in a lot of recipes"
FORUM NICKNAME: Anna
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Michaela Rosenthal
2004
Inductee
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Michaela Rosenthal is a Montana native who has lived in California for more than 25 years, and she comes from a family of good cooks -- one of those "rare" Californians (no pun intended) that repares beef 3-4 times a week. Not surprising, since she grew up on a ranch.
Michaela started entering contests in the spring of 2004, after a friend bought her a copy of "COOK-OFF: Recipe Fever in America." She entered two recipes and was called a few weeks later and told she was one of eight people out of North America to qualify. She went to Gilroy, California for the annual Gilroy Garlic Cook-Off and met Diane Sparrow and other members of CCC that she read about in the book. "I couldn't believe it!" she says. "One month I was reading about these ladies in a book, and the next month I was eating dinner with them!"
Obviously, she has the touch. In just a few months since she began contesting, she has been a prize-winner in several national contests.... "If someone would have told me the course of events my life would take this spring, since I started entering contests, I would have never believed it!" she says.
NOTABLE WINS: Finalist, Gilroy Garlic Festival, 2004; First Place, Lindsay Olives, 2004; First Place, McCormick "Spice for All Seasons," 2004; Semi-Finalist, Lawry's Healthy Grilling Contest, 2004; Winner, Kaiser Bakeware Monthly Contest, 2004; Honorable Mention, Better Homes & Gardens Monthly Contest, 2004; Honorable Mention, Empire Kosher Poultry, 2004.
BEST SURPRISE WIN: A couple of years ago I was having a fancy (expensive) sit-down dinner party for 10 people. Right before I was to start serving the first course, I noticed that the tip to my chef's knife was missing!!! Not finding it on the cutting board, I was forced to throw the whole dinner out. I was devastated, having cooked for two days!... We ended up ordering take-out.
ADVICE: "Believe in yourself"
FORUM NICKNAME: Michaela
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Joyce Sproul
2003 Inductee
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Joyce Sproul started entering recipe contests more than 20 years ago. The first time she entered a recipe contest, Joyce won a designer scarf for her recipe in a La Choy contest. Joyce used their bean sprouts in a spice cake recipe, which, she says, tasted very much like a carrot cake. That, as they say, is history. Over the next two decades of contesting, Joyce has won prizes from Quaker Oats, Tropicana, Kraft, Woman's Day, Family Circle, Hotel Sofitel, Florida Beef, Kretschmer, Campbell Soups, Swift-Eckrich, Weight Watcher's, Dunewood Wines and Progresso Soups... among others.
NOTABLE WINS: Finalist, Pillsbury Bake-Off, 1984 and 2002; Finalist, in three Delmarva Chicken Cook-Offs; "Best Under 300 Calories," National Beef Cook-Off, 1988; "Best Microwave Category," National Beef Cook-Off, 1991; Finalist, National Beef Cook-off, 1993; Finalist, National Chicken Cooking Contest, 1991, 1995 and 1999; Grand Prize, Florida Egg Cook-Off, 1987; Grand Prize, "Pace Pick Up The Pace" Recipe Contest, 1988; Grand Prize, Rice-A-Roni, 1999; Grand Prize, Blue Bonnet "Bake it Better" Contest (cookie category), 2001.
BEST SURPRISE WIN: "Just before the deadline in a sandwich contest, I hurriedly sent in a recipe without testing it," Joyce said. "I didn't have much hope of winning but several weeks later I was surprised to receive a letter informing me that I had won the Grand Prize consisting of a range, a dishwasher,a refrigerator, a microwave, and a washer and dryer.
ADVICE: "Remember the three Ps: Persistence, Patience and Positive Thinking."
FORUM NICKNAME: Joyce
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Elaine Sweet
2003 Inductee |
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Elaine Sweet began entering recipecontests toward the end of 2000. The first national contest she entered was for Knorr's Seasoning, and she ended up winning one of the First Prizes. That was all it took to hook her into this fun hobby. The first cook-off she was a finalist at was the Spice Islands Cook-Off in March 2002 in Napa Valley, Calif.
"I'm a CPA by profession," she says. "It wasn't enough to just cook the books. My husband has always been very supportive of my contesting. I love to cook and to experiment and Milton loves to eat!"
NOTABLE WINS: First Place, 2001 BlueBonnet Bake It Better Contest -- Cake category; First Place, 2001 Cookshack Smoker Contest; First Place 2001 Chile Pepper Magazine; First Place 2001 Kraft Diabetic Choices; First Place, 2002 Reynolds Pot Lux Cookware Contest; Grand Prize, 2001 Dare Crackers 15 Minutes of Fame; Finalist, 2002 Spice Islands Cook-Off; Finalist, 2002 McCormicks Blend to Win Challenge; Finalist, 2002 Gilroy Garlic Festival Cook-Off; Grand Prize, 2002 Elvis Style Seasoning; Grand Prize, 2002 Favorite Name Brands Recipes Casserole Contest; Finalist, 2002 Nestle USA Best Dressed Meals; Finalist, 2003 Louisiana Original Hot Sauce; Finalist (Texas), 2003 National Chicken Cook-Off.
FUNNIEST PRIZE: "The Certified Angus Beef Commission was a big sponsor of the 2002 Olympics. I won a quarterly prize from them that included a cowbell made out of Norwegian artillery. Fortunately, my husband is a schoolteacher and that cowbell has a place of prominence in his classroom."
ADVICE: "As of everything, do your best. Stay current with food trends and incorporate these trends into your submissions. Be brave in your usage of spices and combinations of ingredients. If I really tried hard on a particular contest and didn't win, I'll go back and study the wins to try and understand what the judges were looking for"
FORUM NICKNAME: Elaine
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Beth Royals
2002
Inductee
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Beth Royals has been passionate about cooking and baking for as long as she
can remember. Her parents encouraged her participation in the kitchen and she
made the association early on that cooking for others is an act of love and the
best way she knew to give of herself. She began baking with her 4 year old son
and as a result stumbled upon an ad for a "Cooking with Kids" contest.
When she won the grand prize in early 2002 she was immediately hooked on
contesting. "I'd always enjoyed developing my own recipes and experimenting
with different taste/texture combinations, so I felt contesting might be a good fit."
NOTABLE WINS: Grand Prize Winner, 2002 Nick Jr. Magazine's Cooking with
Kids Contest; Grand Prize Winner, 2002 Carr's Cookie Contest; Finalist, 2002
America's Greatest Cheese Lover Contest; Grand Prize Winner, 2002 Gilroy Garlic Festival; Winner, 2002 Richmond Times-Dispatch Deviled Egg Contest; Finalist, 2002 Southern Living Cook-Off; 1st Place, 2002 Keebler's Top-it-and-Win Contest; Winner, 2002 Richmond Times-Dispatch Perfect Pound Cake Contest; Grand Prize Winner, 2002 Ukrop's Supermarket Holiday Recipe Contest; Third Place, 2002 Child Magazine's Cookie Contest.
FAVORITE PRIZE: "My favorite trip was to the Gilroy Garlic Festival where I was able to see my sister who lives on the west coast. My favorite prize was a glass cake
dome with a hand-painted saying on it from an interview I'd done with our local food editor: 'Life is like a piece of cake, even when it's bad, it's good'".
ADVICE: "Take a look at past winning recipes for a particular sponsor and analyze what they all have in common. Do the titles have a gourmet ring and include complex ingredients or do they lean toward homestyle recipes with minimal steps/ingredients? Don't be let down if you don't win. In the worst case you may have come up with a dish that will become a family favorite for years to come."
FORUM NICKNAME: Beth Royals
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Nikki Norman
2002 Inductee
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Nikki (Peden) Norman is a home cook who has won hundreds of awards for
her creative and inspiring savory, pastry and beverage recipes. Her winning
recipes, food styling, food photography and food writing are featured in
cookbooks and magazines, plus used for promotional purposes on product
packaging, web sites and print advertising campaigns.
Nikki’s Grandmother taught her basic vegetable gardening and cooking skills
as a child. By age seven her enthusiasm for cooking enabled Nikki to prepare her
family’s Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with all the trimmings.
Nikki is a native of Glasgow, Kentucky, graduated with honors from Western
Kentucky University and in 2009 became a Kentucky Colonel; an honorary title
bestowed upon individuals (like Colonel Sanders of KFC fame) by the Governor of
Kentucky.
After retiring in her mid-30s from a career as a health care executive /
business owner / national speaker, Nikki has devoted time to self-study the
culinary arts and heirloom gardening. Since 2000, recipe development, food
styling, food photography, food writing and food videos for culinary
competitions; plus judging national cooking / recipe contests, growing an annual
2500 square foot heirloom garden (including raising over 80 varieties of
heirloom tomatoes), traveling for culinary arts study, food-related television
appearances and home entertaining round out her culinary pastimes.
With residences in the mountainous region of middle Tennessee and oceanfront
on Florida’s northeast coast, Nikki often turns to her heirloom vegetable
garden, homegrown citrus or fresh fish to keep her creativity flowing.
Culinary Travels Related to Contesting:
Since 2000, Nikki’s won trips for her recipes to international destinations
such as the North African country of Tunisia, Italy, Monaco, France and Mexico;
plus traveled often to NYC, Los Angeles, Chicago, Napa Valley, Atlanta, Aspen,
Las Vegas and Orlando, plus smaller U.S. destinations such as Lake Tahoe - CA,
Wichita - KS, Albuquerque - NM, Winter Haven - FL and South Pittsburg - TN to
participate in national cook-offs or contest-related events.
Television / Video:
Nikki was featured as one of the two best home cooks from the south in the
inaugural year of the PBS television series MasterChef 2000. She has been
featured on four Challenge series programs for the Food Network, including
Whirlpool’s Unique Cake Contest, Sutter Home Build a Better Burger, Crisco
National Pie Championships and the National Cornbread Festival. Nikki completed
a 16-week television and commercial acting course in 2000 and has presented her
award-winning creations on local / regional television in Nashville, TN. In 2009
she won the Grand Prize in the American Lamb Board’s Grilling Recipe Video
contest.
Nikki’s Favorite “Unusual” Contest Wins (2004 – 2009):
Winning two Grand Prizes in a national salt contest. Nikki’s personal
photograph, recipe(s) and professionally styled food photo(s) were printed on
the backside of two million Morton Salt boxes distributed nationwide from 2006 –
2008.
Winning an International Recipe Contest sponsored by Chocolatier Magazine and
Nielson Massy Vanilla open to home cooks and professional pastry chefs. The
prize included 5-days i n Las Vegas for a $1500 multi-day pastry class at the
International Pastry Forum and Exhibition in 2004.
Winning a $2500 catered Valentine’s Cocktail Party from Torani in her home
for 20 friends in 2007.
A “Sampling” of
Nikki’s Contest Wins (2003 – 2009):
2009 – Grand Prize –
Gnarly Head Wines Rippin’ Ribs Cook-off
2009 – Grand Prize –
American Lamb Board “Grills Go Wild” Recipe Video Contest
2009 – First Place –
Classic Cherry Pie – Crisco National Pie Championships
2008 – Grand Prize –
Kahiki Asian Inspirations Recipe Contest
2008 – First Place –
Yellow Tail Wines Tailgating Food Photo / Essay Contest
2006 – Grand Prize –
Robert Mondavi Wines “Art of the Skewer” Grilling Contest
2007 – Grand Prize –
Philips Seafood 6th Annual Crabmeat Recipe Contest
2007 – Grand Prize –
Reynolds’s Parchment “Create A Masterpiece to Share” Contest
2006 – Grand Prize –
Furmano’s “Get Your Salsa On” Recipe Contest
2007 – First Place –
McClure’s Maple Syrup BBQ Grilling Contest
2007 – Grand Prize –
More Magazine and Wrigley’s Food Photo / Essay Contest
2005 – Grand Prize –
Sunkist Citrus Celebre’ Recipe Contest
2005 – (Two) Grand Prizes –
Morton Salt “Picture Yourself With An American Icon” Recipe Contest
2003 & 2004 – Finalist
- Sutter Home Build A Better (Beef) Burger (2005 – 1st Beef
Alternate)
2003 – People’s Choice
Award Winner – Sutter Home Build A Better Burger
2004 – Grand Prize –
Nielson-Massey “Show Us The Beans” Recipe Contest
2006 – Grand Prize –
Torani’s Holiday Drink Contest
Nikki’s Favorite
Places to Study the Culinary Arts:
Annual Aspen Food and
Wine Classic
Annual Gourmet
Institute
Culinary Institute of
America (CIA) – Boot Camp Programs
Viking Cooking School
Classes
Annual National Fiery
Foods & BBQ Show
Annual World Pastry
Forum
Red Mountain Spa
Cooking Classes
Nikki’s Award-Winning Culinary Style:
Made from scratch, cutting-edge, artistic creations; manageable for
the home cook ----- often involving the grill, occasionally the oven, and
sometimes wine or spirits!
Nikki’s Contesting Advice:
“Always be selective when entering contests and stay true to your culinary
style. I skip far more contests than I enter, including several contests
offering the largest prize money because they don’t appeal to me creatively or
match my culinary style. It only takes one great entry, not a dozen, to win a
contest and if your creative talents are applicable to this hobby you’ll be
rewarded with victories within a few months. Extend professional respect to
contest sponsors and judges by kitchen testing your recipes before submitting
them for judging, plus include a photo if it’s an option. I’m enthusiastic about
the direction in competitive cooking that requires food writing, recipe videos,
food styling and photos to accompany entries. This opens previously untapped
avenues for judging and opportunities for competitors to hone competitive skills
in new artistic directions. My ideal recipe contest to enter would be one where
the prizes go directly to a charity of my choice”, says Nikki Norman.
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Carolyn Collins
2001
Inductee |
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Although she
always enjoyed cooking, Carolyn Collins never considered entering a
cooking contest until March 2000 and read about the Pillsbury Bakeoff. "I
decided right then and there that I would enter the next one," she says. She
logged on to the Bakeoff Web site and asked around if anyone knew when the next
Bakeoff was... and ended up being directed to CCCentral. Carolyn began entering
cxontests on a regular basis in August 2000 and she's been winning ever since.
"I was surprised at how quickly I had my first win and how much fun it was!" she
says. And it didn't take long for Carolyn to make it to the Bakeoff either...
she was a 2002 Finalist.
NOTABLE WINS: Grand Prize: 2000 National Catfish Institute; Third Place:
2000 mom-mom.com; First Place: 2000 Quaker Oats; First Place: 2001 Kretschmer
Wheat Germ; Finalist: 40th Pillsbury Bakeoff; First Place: 2002 USA Rice; Grand
Prize ($10,000): 2003 Equal Sweetener; Runner-Up: 2005 Nat. Beef Cook-Off.
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Sally Sibthorpe
2001 Inductee
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With 20 years of contesting under her belt, Sally Sibthorpe knows what it takes
to win. And that experience can help in a pinch when you might have to make do
with whatever you can find.
"I’ve entered cooking contests at my state [Michigan] fair for 26 years,"
Sally said. "I got 'hooked' on contesting after winning a pie-baking contest
there that qualified me for Crisco’s 1989 National pie-baking contest.
"I was amazed at the win, because my first attempt didn’t come out, and I
barely had enough time to make a second pie before I had to leave for the fair,"
Sally said. "The pie was just out of the oven, and my daughter held it with
potholders in front of the car’s air conditioning vents so it would cool enough
to set before judging, and we raced away to the fair."
NOTABLE WINS: Third Place, 2009 Panera Bread Lovers Recipe Contest;
Grand Prize, 2008 World Wide Gourmet Foods Recipe Contest; First Place, 2008
Best Barbecue Recipe Contest; Category Winner, 2008 Sweet Rewards; First Place,
2007 Quick & Simple's Low-Cal Recipes Contest; Second Place, 2007 National
Chicken Cookoff; First Place, 2006 Michigan's Best Bread Contest; Grand Prize,
2007 Sweet Rewards; Grand Prize, 2004 Michigan's Best Dessert Contest; Finalist,
2002 Pillsbury Bake Off; Grand Prize, 2002 Rhemy Martin Perfect Pairing; Grand
Prize, 2002 Tofurky Cooking Contest; Grand Prize - 2001 Mama Mary’s; First
Place, 2001 Colavita and Good Seasons; First Place, 2001 Hershey's 'Sugar &
Spice' Recipe Contest (Breads and Desserts); Third Place, 2001 "It Hasta be
Pasta" Contest; Third Place, 2001 Ducane "Cooking with Kids" contest; Finalist,
2001 Pillsbury Bakeoff; Finalist, 2001 Great Australian Barbeque; Finalist, 2001
National Dandelion Festival; Third Place, 2001 Chili Pepper Magazine Contest;
Third Place, 2001 Colavita "Better Than Butter" contest.
MOST INTERESTING PRIZE: The trip to Paris for the Rhemy Martin Perfect
Pairing was an incredible experience. I would never have been able to make a
trip like that if it were not for cooking contests.
ADVICE: "It’s the law of averages... enter enough contests, and you’ll
eventually win something."
FORUM NICKNAME: Sally
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Terry Ann Moore
2001 Inductee
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When her daughter, Amanda, was 4 and the state fair was only 3 miles away, Terry Ann Moore figured entering a recipe contest seemed like a good way to liven up the first slow week of August. For several years, Terry and "Mandi" enjoyed the fun, food and friends as well as the occasional ribbon or prize. Mandi, now in college, grew out of that phase years ago, but for Terry, it was just a start.
Months after entering her first national contest, Terry got a call from a PR representative who said Terry had won First Prize -- a trip to Cancun! Terry says she almost hung up on PR rep. "I'd forgotten I'd entered -- or maybe I just never thought my recipe would win -- and thought she was trying to sell me a time share!" Terry said. After that win, though, she was hooked on contesting.
Most folks who know her, know that Terry specializes in baking, but she enjoys other areas of cooking as well. She won't admit to which products they are, but she's had a bit of success winning contests that involve cooking foods she doesn't particularly care for herself.
Fairs, festivals and other local contests have always been some of her favorite competitions, because she enjoys meeting others who enjoy cooking creatively. Over the years, she and husband Bob have found that making new friends is the best part of contesting.
NOTABLE WINS: Finalist, Pillsbury Bake-Off in 1996, 1998 and 2000; Grand Prize Winner, 2001 National Oyster Cook-Off; Grand Prize Winner, 2001 Blue Bonnet "Bake It Better Contest (Cake Category); First-ever Club SAF "Baker of the Month"; First Place, 2000 Woman's Day/NutraTaste "How Sweet It Is" Contest; Third Place, 2000 Better Homes and Gardens "Century Stand-Outs" Contest; First Place, Mushroom Festival Cook-Off in 1998, 1999 and 2000; Third Place, 2000 Merry-Chino Cherry Recipe Contest.
MOST INTERESTING PRIZE: "Perhaps the year's supply of sauerkraut -- four cases of jars, some of which were broken when they arrived! Or maybe the case of delicious peanut products from the Peanut Festival. And so many wonderful trips to places we never would have gone but for contesting."
ADVICE: "Stay positive, enter as many recipes in as many contests as you can -- you never know what the judges are looking for. Most important of all, remember that any recipe your family enjoys is a winner regardless of what the judges say."
FORUM NICKNAME: TerryAnn
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Claudia Shepardson
2000
Inductee
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Oct. 18, 2000, marked Claudia Shepardson's one-year anniversary of entering cooking contests. On that day a year ago, she entered one recipe online to the Pillsbury Bake-Off (on the day of the deadline.) She was selected as a finalist and flew out to San Francisco for the Bakeoff and "one of the most exciting events of my life." Little surprise then that Claudia became hooked on cooking contests, and with great enthusiasm she began entering a lot of them. But by summertime, dozens of entries yielded nothing but a $10.00 lobster certificate, an apron, a tee shirt, and a baking pan. "I was about ready to give up, thinking I was destined to be a one-shot wonder," she said. But, with encouragement from her husband, Claudia decided to stick it out for a whole year. Over the course of the next few months, Claudia won the Grand Prize in the USA Rice Council's contest, then spent the fall traveling to Lynchburg, Tenn., as a Jack Daniels winner and Napa Valley, Calif., as a Sutter Home finalist. Needless to say, Claudia has decided to give contesting another year.
NOTABLE WINS: Finalist, 2000 Pillsbury Bakeoff; Grand Prize winner, 2000 USA Rice Council "Rice to the Rescue" contest; Grand Prize winner, 2000 Jack Daniels "The Secret is in the Sauce" contest; Finalist, 2000 Sutter Home "Build a Better Burger" contest; Grand Prize, 2000 Knorr¹s Sauces "Make Summer Delicious" Contest; First Prize winner, Rice-a-roni Chicken and Rice Contest.
THE BIGGEST PRIZE: "Even more valuable to me than the prizes are the new friends I have made, both through participation in the cook-offs and through the Internet as a result of Cooking Contest Central's Forum. This has to have been the most exciting year of my life!"
ADVICE: "You can't win if you don't enter. Don't let what seems to be staggering odds stop you. Your chance is as good as anyone else's. 2) Be patient. It may take some time to get your first win, but if you quit, it might be just before your big break, and the thrill of that first win is not something you would want to miss."
FORUM NICKNAME: Claudia
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Lisa Keys
2000 Inductee |
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Lisa Keys entered her first cooking contest when she
was in 9th grade. It was sponsored by her school's French club and she won
the grand prize. That was in 1972. She didn't enter another recipe contest
until 1990 when she became a finalist in the Pillsbury Bake-Off with just
one entry. "That win changed my life forever," she says. "I discovered a new
hobby and lots of new friends.
NOTABLE WINS: Finalist, 1998, 1994 (won a prize this year) and 1990
Pillsbury Bake-off; Finalist, 2000 Snow's Clam Cook-Off; Grand Prize, 1998
National Pasta Association Contest sponsored by Family Circle Magazine
($10,000); Second Prize, 1998 Delmarva Chicken Cook-Off; First Prize, 1998
Kretschmer Wheat Germ; Third Prize, 1998 Bays English Muffins; Finalist,
1998 Mama Mary's Pizza Cook-Off; First Prize, 1997 & 2002 & 2006 Goldkist;
Finalist, 1997, 1992 and 1991 National Beef Cook-Off; Grand Prize, 1996
Sargento Cheese ($5,000.00 for her and another $5,000.00 for a local soup
kitchen); Finalist, 1995 Sutter Home "Build a Better Burger"; Finalist, 1993
National Chicken Cookoff; Finalist, 1993 Crisco American Cookoff; Finalist,
1992 Land O'Lakes Family Reunion; First Prize, Better Homes & Gardens Lamb
contest. 2002 first prize in Quaker Oats. 2001 1st prize Krestchmer wheat
germ. 2002 Canned Food Alliance grand prize. 2003 & 2005 (category winner)
Southern Living Cookoff . 2005 Sunkist Citrus grand prize. 2005 Smithfield
Pork/Stew Leonard's grand prize 2007. Hood Holiday HM. 2009 Puff Pastry to
Paris grand prize--a dream come true!
FUNNIEST PRIZE: Cherry Apple
Red Harley Davidson Motorcycle from Stew Leonard's
ADVICE: "Don't throw out your losing recipes. Relook at them, give
them a tweak or two and re-submit them to another contest. And re-read the
advice the other Hall of Famers have given as those are words to live by."
FORUM NICKNAME: Lisa
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Diane Sparrow
2000 Inductee |
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Diane Sparow is the mother of four adult sons and learned to cook out of necessity. She started to enter recipe contests to make it fun. She began her contesting career 4 years ago when a friend suggested that a breakfast egg recipe she makes should be entered in the Iowa Egg Council. So, she entered. . . and won. Her first national contest win was Gold Kist farms in 1997. She saw their contest and noticed the prizes included a refrigerator. Since hers was on the blink at the time, she entered, won 3rd place, got her new refrigerator and was hooked on contesting. "Some of the most fun wins are the small contests that you forget you have entered until you get notification," Diane says. "It is seldom the recipe you think will win that makes it. And remember, it is supposed to be a hobby, so enjoy it!"
NOTABLE WINS: Second Place in 1998 Gold Kist Farms contest; Finalist in 1998 National Chicken Cooking Contest; $5,000 First Place winner in the 1998 Checks for Chex contest; Finalist in the 1998 Bays English Muffins contest; First Place in the 1998 Dunnwood Dine Off; Fourth Place in the 1999 Gold Kist Farms contest; Grand Prize winner in 2000 Gold Kist Farms contest; Finalist in 2000 Pillsbury Bakeoff; First Place and Best of Category in 2000 Cookshack smoker contest.
FUNNIEST CONTEST: Diane once competed in a grilled cheese recipe contest at a local supermarket. After drawing the last preparation spot, she found out the judge had to leave at a certain time to attend her daughter's recital. When the rest of the contestants went overtime preparing their recipes, Diane found herself with only 4 minutes to throw together her creation. Keeping her cool, Diane threw her sandwich together, grilled it in record time and won the Grand Prize.
ADVICE: "Put the most effort into the area that you are the strongest in. Most of us are better at one area -- Baking, Grilling , Meats, Healthy, etc. Unless you have unlimited time to contest enter your strong areas first and use any extra time to fine tune your weak areas. Also don't over think your recipes."
FORUM NICKNAME: DS
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Patricia Harmon
1999 Inductee |
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Patricia Harmon began entering recipe contests in 1989, but she
says she didn't really get cooking until 1996, when she retired from her office
job. Since then, she's been a three-time Pillsbury Bakeoff Finalist. $5,000 as
well as a finalist in 8 other national cook-offs, including three times in the
National Beef Cook-Off and twice representing Pennsylvania in the National
Chicken Cook-Off, and finalist in 2009 National Cornbread Cook-Off. Pat's
cooking prowess has also earned her a 1997 trip to Italy for a local radio
recipe contest. "I started entering recipe contests because I have always loved
to cook and bake," said Pat, who is an avid Pittsburgh Steeler fan.
NOTABLE WINS: Finalist in 1996, 1998 and 2002 Pillsbury Bakeoff; Winner,
1996 KDKA radio "Taste of Italy" contest; Winner, Grand Prize $5,000 Winner,
1997 Reddi-Wip Contest; Grand Prize Winner, 1999 and 2003 Taste of Home Cooking
School; $10,000 Category winner in 2001 National Beef Cook-Off; Grand Prize
Winner in Heinz Tailgate Recipe Contest, Steeler Game Package; Grand Prize in
Bon Appetit Magazine Contest, a Sub-Zero Wine Refrigerator; Grand Prize Dell
Laptop Computer in Newman's Own "Back-to-School Recipe Contest; Weber gas grill
grand prize in Quck & Simple Magazine grilling contest; numerous wins in Better
Homes & Gardens Monthly Recipe Contest; numerous runner-up cash and prizes in
various contests including several $1,000 prizes in USA Rice Federation contests
as well as many in Taste Of Home's magazines.
FUNNIEST PRIZE: Publication of her winning recipe in Woman's Day
magazine. "I didn't know it until they sent me a copy of the magazine."
ADVICE: "Think quick and easy and follow the trends for most contests.
If you think something is too simple to win, enter it anyway. It may be just
what the judges are looking for."
FORUM NICKNAME: Pat
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Shirley DeSantis
1999 Inductee |
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Shirley DeSantis may have picked up the $5,000 first prize in the 1989
National Beef Cook-off's Microwave category (left), but it was the Pillsbury
Bake-off that made her get the rest of the family into recipe contests. She was
a finalist twice, right about the time Pillsbury introduced the "three times and
your out" rule. So Shirley got the kids involved. . . and it paid off. Husband
Alex and daughter Miranda were the first father/daughter finalists, then son
Tony was a finalist in the following contest. Miranda did it by herself in the
next bake-off, and Alex and Tony were the first father/son finalists in the
following contest. It should come as no surprise, then, that Alex Jr. was a
finalist in another bake-off. Shirley went back for her final "three times your
out" in 2004. Nor should it come as a surprise that Tony was also a finalist at
the National Beef Cook-off when Shirley won in 1989.
NOTABLE WINS:
COOK OFFS: Pillsbury Bake-off Finalist - Shirley: 2004 trip to cook off -
Hollywood 1978 trip to cook off - New Orleans 1968 trip to cook off - Atlanta
Pillsbury Bake-off Finalist - Family: 1994 Alex Jr. - San Diego 1990 Alex and
Tony (1st father/son) - Phoenix 1988 Miranda - San Diego ($4,000) 1986 Tony -
Orlando 1984 Alex and Miranda (1st father/daughter) - San Diego
National Beef Cook Off Finalist - Shirley: 1990 trip to cook off - Portland -
(1st - Microwave category) 1988 trip to cook off - Jackson, MS 1976 trip to cook
off - Salt Lake City (1st - they now call it GP) National Beef Cook Off Finalist
-Family: 1992: Jane - Colorado 1991: Alex, Jr. - Tacoma 1990: Tony - Porland
National Oyster Cook Off Finalist - Shirley - Competed in 12 of their cook
offs: 2005 2nd; 2004 1st; 2003 3rd; 2002 1st; 1997 3rd; 1993 2nd; 1992 2nd; 1988
1st and Grand prize; 1984 2nd; 1982 3rd; 1981 2nd; 1980 2nd. National Oyster
Cook Off Finalist - Alex: 2006 2nd; 2004 3rd; 2002 3rd; 2001 2nd; 2000 3rd; 1998
1st; 1995 1st and Grand prize; 1992 2nd
Cook Off Finalist - Shirley: 2005 Rival CrockTober - trip for 2 to cook off -
NYC 2005 IGA Hometown Holidays - trip for 2 to cook off - Chicago 1983 National
Catfish Cook-off 1979 National Pineapple Cook-off
Cook Off Finalist: Alex: 2002 1st Southern Living Cook Off - Florida - trip
for 2 plus $2,000 1996 Knob Creek Manhattan drink contest - trip for 2 to NYC
1990 1st Sutter Home 'Build a Better Burger" cook off. Trip to CA wine country
to compete.
RECIPE CONTESTS: Shirley 1991: Widmer lake Niagara Wines: GP - trip for 2 to
New Orleans (we took a cash alternative prize) 1988: Hidden Valley Ranch: 1st -
expense paid 5 day trip to great hotel in LaJolla including $$$ for dining 1987:
Idaho Potato/Family Circle Magazine: GP - expense paid trip for 5 (1 week) to
Keystone Resort, Keystone, CO - great condo and $$$ for food 1986: Uncle Ben's
Country Inn Rice: GP - expense paid trip week for 2 to Madrona Manor in CA wine
country - food at inn was fantastic. 17th and 11th : Gold Kist Chicken "Winning
Tastes" - 2nd prizes. (Alex won a 4th at 13th)
There are a LOT of prizes in smaller cook offs and recipe contests over the
years. The $$$ are always wonderful ... $5,000 is probably the largest amount
I've received at one time. Many wins in Better Homes and Gardens monthly plus a
nice win in one of the 'special' contests. Winning recipes also in McCalls, Good
Housekeeping, Family Circle. Also Prizes in many of the Quaker Oats contests;
Kretschmer Wheat Germ; Campbells; Bertolli, Golden Blossom Honey; Kraft;
Progresso; Hidden Valley; Frenchs; Swift-Eckrich; Heinz; triscuit; College Inn;
Old El Paso; Bailey's Irish Cream; Leroux; Treasure Cave Blue Cheese; Sargento;
Nestles; Kikkoman; Arnold; Krups; River Rice; Hellmanns; Karo; Stokley-Van Camp;
Brooks Chili Beans; Ehlers; LaChoy; Lawrys; Chex; Knox; Swansons; Hunts; Silver
Floss; Parkay; Uncle Bens and more in local and regional contests.
BEST PRIZES: A week for two at a country inn in California wine
country; a week for two in La Jolla, Calif.; a week for 5 to Keystone Ski Resort
in Colorado.
ADVICE: "Read the rules. . . then read them again. No matter how great
your entry is, if you don't follow every rule, your entry will most likely end
up in File 13."
FORUM NICKNAME: shirleyd
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Rosemary Johnson
1999 Inductee
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Rosemary Johnson was one of the first visitors to Cooking
Contest Central, and it is no surprise: She has been an avid recipe
contester since 1996, although she has entered recipes since 1964. Her most
famous win was placing 3rd in 2003 Gilroy Garlic Cookoff with "Summer Garden
Pie with Chipotle Cream". She was the farthest contestant that year and
High Noon did a feature of her on TV that has played almost every year since
then.
NOTABLE WINS: 2007 Taste of Home put a recipe of hers in their
Celebrations Cookbook; Placed 3rd in 2003 Gilroy Garlic Cookoff; Grand Prize
winner 1999 Bryan Family Traditions; 1964 Pillsbury Bake-Off Finalist; 3rd
Place, 1998 National Cornbread Cookoff; Two-time finalist, Alabama Beef
Cookoff
FUNNIEST PRIZE: A gift basket from Spain with no tag on it. "I won it
the week that I retired, and I thought someone had sent me the basket
because I had retired."
ADVICE: "Don't give up, keep it simple, keep it fun, and go for as
many as you can."
FORUM NICKNAME: rosemaryj
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