Joe Hornaday
A trip to the dentist might be in order for the three judges who refereed the Greensburg Sesquicentennial Cook-Off and sampled nine different desserts on Tuesday.
Victor Dance, Mayor Gary Herbert and Sesquicentennial Queen Grace Fiske were served with 13 food entries for the competition. Three of those fell into the vegetable category, two into the main entree category and nine into the desserts. A mixture of food aromas arose from the soggy tent on the south side of the Decatur County Courthouse lawn as guests and entrants were greeted with a table full of gourmet food.
The three judges utilized water to cleanse their palates while they tasted treats like the “Tower Tree Cheeseball,” raspberry parfaits, cheese tortellini and raspberry brownies. As they chowed down, the trio took notes and scribbled scores, working together to determine a first and second place finisher in each category. Mayor Herbert was also tasked with picking an overall winner.
Following a few moments of quiet discussion, the judges made their choices.
“We’ve made our selection. Hear ye hear ye hear ye,” Herbert said.
After the announcement, the three judges were eager to get back to eating.
“We’re allowed to eat again?” Queen Grace Fiske asked.
When the votes were handed over to Ladies’ Day coordinator Angie Dilkes, she said that any contestant who was mad at the results could take it up with the judges, and she offered up Mayor Herbert and Fiske.
The Sesquicentennial Cook-Off second place winner in the vegetable category was Amy Kinker for her onion meringue. Mildred Hazel was the first place finisher in vegetables, and she vowed to donate her monetary award toward research for Alzheimer’s Disease.
In the category of entrees, Robin Allen won second place for her chicken casserole, while Amy Kinker won again in first place with her cheesy tortellini.
Danielle Hacker swept the desserts category with both the second and first place finish for her peanut butter fudge and snickerdoodle cookies.
The overall Sesquicentennial Cook-Off contest winner was Robin Allen, who tickled the right taste buds with her raspberry parfaits.
“These ladies have been cooking up a storm,” Dilkes said.
