Chocolate Festival Winners Announced
Several contests were held at the recent Chocolate Festival fundraiser held just outside Robbins , North Carolina to benefit the nonprofit Robbins Area Christian Ministries
The Chocolate Challenge dessert contest had winners in both professional and amateur categories. The Best-Looking Chocolate Creations were judged on looks alone. Other categories were judged primarily on taste.
Professional, Best-Looking Chocolate Creation:
1st place won by Desserts by Walter Tullio of Robbins for Chocolate Fantasy Cake
Professional, Cakes and Cupcakes:
1st place won by Desserts by Walter Tullio of Robbins for Chocolate Fantasy Cake
2nd place won by Maxie B’s of Greensboro
3rd place won by Westmoore Family Restaurant of Seagrove for Iced Chocolate Pound Cake
Amateur, Best-Looking Chocolate Creation:
1st place won by Erik Farrell of Seagrove for Chocolate Raspberry Cake
2nd place won by David Farrell of Seagrove for Chocolate Cheesecake
3rd place won by Mary Cummings of Robbins for Chocolate Oreo Pudding
Amateur, Cakes and Cupcakes:
1st place won by Emily Owens of Robbins for Cocoa Almond Cake
2nd place won by Patsy Garner of Robbins for Chocolate Cream Cake
3rd place won by Betty Sue Garner of Robbins for Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Icing
Amateur, Other Chocolate Desserts:
1st place won by Randy Hussey of Robbins for Chocolate Chess Pie
2nd place won by Betty Sue Garner of Robbins for Peanut Butter Squares
3rd place won by Mary Cummings of Robbins for Chocolate Oreo Pudding
A panel of five judges from outside the Robbins area selected winners of the Chocolate Challenge. Judges were Linda Carnes-McNaughton, archaeologist at Fort Bragg and President of the North Carolina Pottery Center; Jessica Ledbetter, Outreach Coordinator at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, Sandhills Location; Lee Calhoun, apple expert and noted author of Southern Heritage Apples and other books; Foy Allen Edelman, author of Sweet Carolina, a cookbook of desserts from across our state; and Foy’s willing husband Jerry Edelman, who simply loves chocolate! Judges were impressed by the overall quality of the desserts entered.
People who attended the Chocolate Festival bought tasting tickets which permitted them to sample the various desserts and then vote on their favorite. Once all votes were tallied, Betty Sue Garner had won the People’s Choice Award for her Peanut Butter Squares.
Entrants to “Runway Chocolate: a Chocolate-Inspired Fashion Show” entered in either High Style or Silly categories. Several who entered showed great creativity.
Janett Nelson of Robbins won 1st place in High Style with a coordinated outfit all in brown tones.
Winners in the Silly Category were selected by age group:
Emma Martindale won in the 12 and under division for her outfit as a Hershey’s Kiss.
Tristan Mackey won in the teen division with a costume titled “Melted Chocolate.”
Karen Swinney won in the adult female division, dressed as an M&M.
Sam Swinney won in the adult male division as the Chocolate Sheriff.
People’s Choice Winner for the Fashion Show was Peyton Vest, dressed as a Kit Kat bar. This People’s Choice Award was based on which entrant collected the most donations for Robbins Area Christian Ministries
Teresa Thomas was MC for the fashion show and the judges for Runway Chocolate were Annette Jordan, Style Editor of the Courier-Tribune of Asheboro; Beth Gore, of Cady Clayworks; and Chris Dunn of the Arts Council of Moore County
This was the first time Robbins Area Christian Ministries Moore County
