Marjorie Graham won Best of Fair and the Culinary division Grand Championship today with an Afghani squash, yogurt and meat dish called Kaddo Bourani. On Friday, September 3, Graham won the Potluck Day division with her recipe, entered in Favorite Ethnic Dish.
Graham has been entering in the NY State Fair culinary competitions for 40 years (with a few years off.) This is her first Grand Championship Best of Fair. Grand Champion earned Graham a purple rosette and a new slow cooker.
Each day of the fair, one recipe submitted in the regular classes was selected as the division (section) winner. Division winners make their recipe again on Labor Day to compete for the Best of Fair awards. This year's division (section) winners competing for Best of Fair were:
> Canned Foods: Thursday, August 26 – Geri Bellotti, Chutney
> Jams and Jellies: Friday, August 27 – Helen Lyons, Freezer Jam
> Bread: Saturday, August 28 – Luana Impellizzeri, Yeast Bread
> Tailgate Treats: Sunday, August 29 – Geri Bellotti, Filled Bread Roll
> Cake: Monday, August 30 – Elaine Reilly, Pound Cake
> Pie: Tuesday, August 31 – June Laird, Chiffon Pie
> Practically Homemade: Thursday, September 2 – Deborah M. Burch, Biscuit Mix Creation
> Potluck Day: Friday, September 3 – Marjorie Graham, Favorite Ethnic Dish
> Cookies: Saturday, September 4 – Regina Marden-Crupe, Drop Cookie
Final placements in the Best of Fair culinary competition were announced in a small presentation at noon on Labor Day. The presentation was only open to contestants, culinary competition staff and a few guests. The winners are:
1 – Marjorie Graham (Grand Champion)
2 – Helen Lyons (Jams and Jellies)
3 – Luana Impellizzeri (Bread)
4 – Regina Marsden-Crupe (Cookie)
5 – Deborah M. Burch (Practically Homemade)
6 – Geri Bellotti (Canned Foods)
7 – Elaine Reilly (Cake)
8 – June Laird (Pie)
9 – Geri Bellotti (Tailgate Treats)
Graham's recipe will be published on Syracuse.com at a later date. Meanwhile, this recipe for Kaddo Bourani from Helmand Restaurant, Cambridge MA, is ready for the central New York fall table. Since pie pumpkins aren't ready to harvest yet in this part of the country, any hard-shell squash (butternut, acorn) can be substituted for the pumpkin called for in the recipe.
Read more about food at the NY State Fair:
Amateur cooks, bakers can shine at the Great New York State Fair
Culinary results for August 26-29 and August 30 – September 1
Best bets: Mountain View pulled pork sandwich
95X DJ Stone wins Adam Richman's DJ v. Fair Food challenge
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