Slavic Baking Contest: How do you measure up?

Photo

SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR Last year’s winners of the Simply Slavic Baking Competition are, from left, Nancy Backur, second place; Joanne DuVall, third place; and Tina Kivach-Olexo, who won first place for her cheese strudel.

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

If you are an amateur baker of Slavic goodies, it’s time to roll out your flair for flour.

The organizers of the fifth annual Simply Slavic Festival want to help preserve Slavic recipes, and they’re encouraging that by hosting the annual Slavic Baking Competition, which takes place during the festival, June 20 on East Federal Street downtown.

Local Slavic celebrity judges will pick their favorites based on three criteria: taste, 50 percent; authenticity, 25 percent; and presentation, 25 percent.

Bakers must be nonprofessionals. Professional is defined as a person who is paid or has been paid to cook or bake. Contestants should submit their entry forms with a $5 nonrefundable entry fee and a description of 100 words or fewer. The form, which includes contest rules and information, is available online at www.simplyslavic.org.

It’s important to describe your entry’s Slavic roots, holidays at which it was served and where you first ate it. Mail the form to Simply Slavic Baking Contest, 4442 Rita Ave., Youngstown, OH 44515. Entries are being accepted until June 15.

On festival day, bakers are to take their entries to the baking contest table, inside Joe Maxx Coffee Shop, at street level in the Realty Tower, no later than 1 p.m. Judging will begin at 2.

Contestants are asked to take two of the baked items or two dozen cookies packaged separately. No baked goods will be accepted if they have to be frozen, refrigerated or heated. They will be at room temperature when judges sample them.

For information call Mary Margaret Hovanes, contest chairwoman, at 330-792-6281 or email bakingcontest@simplyslavic.org.