Bakers Vie for Cash Prizes at Santa Ysabel Casino
By Ruth Lepper

From left, Alicia Dean, NBC 7/39, Barbara Dean, Julian Pie Company and Ken Kramer, NBC 7/39 were the contest judges. Photo by Carol Kinney

More than 40 bakers turned out at Santa Ysabel Casino on Sept. 30 to vie for cash prizes totaling $3,300. The baking contest was sponsored by the casino in conjunction with the Julian Apple Days Festival.

Men and women from around the county entered their homemade dessert delicacies in three categories - pies, cakes and cookies. Each category will have four winners, with prizes of $500, $300, $200 and $100. The winners will be announced at noon on Oct. 6 at the Julian Apple Days Festival at Menghini Winery.

Judging the 42 entries were Ken Kramer, news personality from NBC 7/39, Alicia Dean, executive producer from NBC 7/39, and Barbara Dean, from Julian Pie Company.

"It was a surprise," Kramer commented. "I had expected that my taste buds would go flat and be less interested in the later ones, but each one seemed to be like a fresh adventure to me. I had not anticipated each one would be such a pleasure for me, but it was."

The judges noted the details the contestants took in making their baked goods more presentable, as well as the quality of taste.

"I was impressed with the amount of love that went into each of the submissions," Dean said. "You could just tell people put their heart and soul into what they were baking. Some of the attention to detail was amazing."

Pine agreed.

"I was impressed with the number of participants, being the first time here (for a baking contest), I was surprised," she said. "It was a wonderful experience for me, not ever having done this before. I was fascinated with the details and the presentations. It was 'sweet.'"

The baked goods and recipes were judged on presentation, taste, originality and creativity.

A slide show of the baking contest entries is available at www.nbcsandiego.com.