The results for the 1st Annual Apple Bake-off are in!
Thank you to everyone who participated…we had 10 delicious apple desserts in all.
There are three awards: 2 Judges’ Choice, and 1 People’s Choice. The winners of the judges’ prize receive a coveted and highly collectible “golden apple,” and the People’s Choice winner earns a large, bragworthy (personalized!) Champion of the Apple trophy. See prizes below.
The results from our judges:
CELEBRITY JUDGE: at the beginning of this competition, I promised a Celebrity Judge, and I’m proud to say I’ve delivered: Having recently returned from filming Mission Impossible 7, our very own Kevin Poliquin has awarded Golden Apple # 1 to Kristina Johnstone’s Toffee Apple Crisp. Of the Crisp, Kevin wrote “Good, well-spiced apple presence” with a “sweet crunch.” He also expressed admiration for Cynthia’s Apple Pie Churros, which he described as “perfectly crisp with a nice crunch; flavors melded well.”
CHEF RON: Chef Ron selected Andrew Mitchell's Apple Cheesecake Crumb Bar for Golden Apple #2. Of the cheesecake, he said it had “excellent flavor, texture, and appearance” and, when Andrew read between the lines for a deeper unwritten truth, he continued with, “baked by a man who deserves the Nobel Prize—nay, all of the Nobel Prizes.” Chef Ron also expressed admiration for Annie’s “Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars”; Vicky’s apple muffins; and the apple cakes made by Luciana and Melissa.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD: With her Caramel Apple Crisp (“Decadent, dreamy, delicious—part apple, part crisp, wholly sensational” declares tomorrow’s New York Times), Debbie Hensley has received the most votes and wins the People’s Choice Award trophy. Our very own Celebrity Judge, Kevin Poliquin, even personalized her trophy. May it’s golden light shine as a beacon of hope through the darkness of the coming winter.
Thank you again to everyone who participated, especially given the logistical challenges with Covid-19! It was fun.
~ The Graduate Programs Team
