Cook's Corner: Sculptor at Winter Games

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February 8, 2010

Anonymous The Record Eagle Mon Feb 08, 2010, 07:27 AM EST

Traverse City ice sculptor Steven Berkshire will represent the U.S. in the 2010 Ice Art World Championship, an official 2010 Winter Games Cultural Olympiad event.

The competition will include teams from Italy, Japan, Australia, France and Canada and will be held beginning Feb. 20 in Richmond, B.C., one of the venue cities for the Winter Olympics.

Berkshire's partner is Ted Wakar, of Canton.

The teams will have 3,000 pounds of ice to carve into an Olympic-themed sculpture in 12 hours. There will also be a two-hour "speed sculpting" competition.

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Marie and Richard Rizzio were finalists in the Fifth Annual Michigan's Best Apple Pie Contest, sponsored by Zehnder's.

While neither cook won, Marie said it was interesting to see the variety in the 60 apple pies lined up for the judges to sample.

Richard entered his Crunchy Caramel Apple Pie. Marie entered Walnut-Crusted Apple Pie with Toffee Glaze.

The winner was Cream Cheese Apple Pie with Oatmeal Pecan Streusel, by Kim Landuis of Dewitt.

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Friske's Orchards is holding its annual Cherry Recipe Contest and the deadline is Feb. 15.

The categories are beverages (non-alcoholic) and snacks.

The contest is open to everyone except professional chefs, Friske employees and their families.

Six finalists will be chosen in each category and final judging will be held 10:30 a.m. Feb. 27 at the farm market, 10 miles south of Charlevoix on U.S. 31.

Registration forms are available at Friske's, by calling 599-2604 or at the Web site, www.friske.com.

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Northwestern Michigan College is holding a Winter Festival of Foods Feb. 20.

The event, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Oleson Center, features 16 options. Students can choose four; each demonstration lasts an hour.

Among the offerings are Brick Oven Breads with Gerard Grabowski of Pleasanton Brick Oven Bakery, Cooking without a Recipe with Eric Patterson and Jen Blakeslee of The Cooks' House and Cavatelli Pomodoro with Mickey Cannon of the Tuscan Bistro.

There are also classes on beer, knife skills, pies and more.

Cost is $69 for four choices. Go to www.nmc.edu/ees or call 995-1700 for more information.

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Registration is open for this year's farm-to-school conference, "Setting the Table for Wellness."

The conference will be held March 15 at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa. Registration is $25 per person; after Feb. 15 it goes up $10. The price includes a conference notebook, morning and afternoon snacks and a local foods lunch.

The daylong event is suited for schools, camps, students, farms, parents and others who want to learn how to bring fresh, local foods into cafeterias and curriculum. It's presented by Taste the Local Difference, an agricultural program of the Michigan Land Use Institute.

For more information or to register, go to www.mlui.org or call 941-6584.

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The Manton Area Chamber of Commerce is to hold its fourth annual Chili Cookoff and Pie Contest March 6.

Chili entries are limited to 20. There is a $10 fee and contestants need to prepare a minimum of two to three gallons and bring all the necessary toppings (cheese, crackers, chips). Entrants also need to provide their own pot or slow cooker to keep the chili warm although plugs and extension cords will be available.

Pie contestants need to bake at least two pies; one for judging and one to be auctioned.

There will also be a pepper-eating contest to see who can eat the most habanero peppers. Last year's winner, Jon Stanley Sr., ate 11.

For more information on how to enter or about the contests in general, contact Jaimie Fellows, jaimiefellows@yahoo.com, 920-6617.

If you have food news or questions, send them to: Cook's Corner, Traverse City Record-Eagle, 120 W. Front St., Traverse City, MI 49685; call 933-1511 or (800) 968-8273; or e-mail jtaylor@record-eagle.com.

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Cherry Republic's Original Salsa helped propel a Kalamazoo business to first place in a winter chili cookoff.

Nature Connection in downtown Kalamazoo took top honors for its chili made with Cherry Republic's salsa during the cookoff held as part of the city's Great Winter Adventure Festival in January. The shop, which sells the salsa, came in first as best overall chili and was named top among retail entries. Votes were cast by the public, with about 2,500 people attending.

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Hermann's European Cafe of Cadillac won the Golden Fork Award from the Gourmet Diners Society and was named a 2010 Restaurant of Distinction. Hermann's, 214 N. Mitchell St., is owned and operated by Hermann Suhs.