Auglaize County Fair’s cooking judge Pat Apple baked goods takes a sample of marinated pork skewers to taste test during Wednesday evening’s Greek themed cooking contest. Contestants on Wednesday evening gathered in the fruit hall at the fairgrounds for the judging, as well as to sample each other’s entries.
Horticulture chairman Larry Kill, who determines the theme for the contest, says he likes to challenge participants with a different country each year. By choosing a foreign country as the theme, competitors have to get out of their comfort zone and get inspired, he said. Doris Cook’s Greek lemon cake waits to be judged at the Auglaize County Fair. Doris Cook, 81, is a longtime participant of the contest.
Marys resident submitted a Greek lemon cake, which she said introduced her to some new techniques and ingredients. Cook said she usually enters the contest if she can find a corresponding recipe. Her philosophy, she said, is if no one enters the contests there won’t be a fair. Marys, entered meatballs with lemon garlic orzo as her Greek dish and baklava as her Greek sweet. The 59-year-old said she got the meatball recipe from her daughter-in-law, who often makes Greek food and is a great home cook. The competition is a fun way to try new foods and meet with old friends and competitors who take part each year, she said. We get to meet each other every year and get to chat,” Durkee said.