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Sickles Pie Contest Raises $45,000 for Holiday Express

Once a modest local bakeoff, the two-day event Friday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 22, at Sickles Market raised $45,000 for Holiday Express. Owner Bob Sickles far exceeded his goal of $30,000 for this year and nearly doubled last year’s figure of $24,000.

The fun started at Friday night’s Wine and Cheese Tasting with live and silent auctions in Sickles Market’s beautiful greenhouse. Saturday nearly 60 pies were entered in amateur, culinary student and professional divisions judged by culinary celebrities Carole Walter, Arthur Schwartz and Rozanne Gold.

Holiday Express is a not for profit traveling troupe of professional musicians and residents who volunteer their time to bring holiday cheer and needed items to those in need.

At the event Steve Bidgood, owner Salt Creek Grille, was presented with the Sickles Market Crystal Apple Award for excellence in culinary arts and community service. The award was presented to Bidgood by last year’s recipient best-selling cookbook author Carole Walter and lead judge for the Apple Pie Baking Contest.

Guests at Friday night’s event reached deep into their pockets and purchased live auction items while they enjoyed super Sickles Market hors d’oeuvre and legendary artisan cheeses. Wines for tasting were donated by Fedway, Rumson Buy Rite, Salt Creek Grille and Lauber Imports. Also providing succulent hors d’oeuvre were New Jersey’s D’Artagnan and Perona Farms. Private wine collectors provided collectible wines for silent auction and for the super wine pour.

Tim McLoone, entertainer, Holiday Express founder and owner of McLoone’s Riverside, Sea Bright and McLoone’s Pier House, Long Branch, was the gifted auctioneer.

Winner of the five local banks baked apple pies for the Celebrity Pie Baking Contest including Staff from Central Jersey Bank, N.A., Commerce Bank, Two River Community Bank, Valley National Bank, and Wachovia. Joyce Eckhoff of Wachovia won the contest that was judged by guests.

Results from the Apple Pie Baking Contest on Saturday, Oct. 22 are below. Private judging began at 10 a.m. Sue Sell, owner of Cook ‘N Tell assisted the judges. There were two entry categories for amateurs – “apples only” and “apples and” Culinary student, amateurs and professionals were awarded cash prizes: First, $500; Second, $100; Third, $50.

2005 Apple Pie Contest

Amateur Division

Apples Only

• First Place Joyce Devine (Atlantic Highlands, NJ)
• Second Place Donna Domanski (Colts Neck, NJ)
• Third Place Lillian Marshall (Red Bank, NJ)

Apples And

• First Place Judy Laura (Red Bank, NJ)
• Second Place Christie O'Brien (Red Bank, NJ)
• Third Place Patti Skinner (Little Silver, NJ)

Professional Division

• First Place Susie Raczkiewiez (Little Silver, NJ)
• Second Place Deborah Fragale (Long Branch, NJ)
• Third Place Adrienne Longhitano (Middletown, NJ)

Culinary Student Division

• First Place Bruno Pascale (#13 S) Culinary Education Center of Monmouth County
• Second Place Jessica Fonash (#2 S) Academy of Culinary Arts, Atlantic Cape Community College
• Third Place Richele Brisbon (#10 S) JNA Institute of Culinary Arts, Phil, PA

Best-selling cookbook authors Arthur Schwartz and Rozanne Gold participated in a panel discussion moderated by Brooke Tarabour, Star Ledger columnist.

“Sickles Apple Pie Contest began as a local effort for the home baker and has blossomed into an important baking competition for bakers at all levels. From the person who bakes his or her winning pie for the family table to the culinary students aspiring to hone their skills to reach the level of participating chefs, this contest brings people back to the grassroots of baking our American apple pie from scratch. There is nothing like a home baked pie,” said Carole Walter.

Brian Pasch - October 25, 2005