FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 23, 2018 Contact: Rob Clark, Michigan Sugar Company, 989-686-0161
FRANKENMUTH – Chefs and bakers from across Michigan competed Monday, Oct. 22, at the annual Zehnder’s Squashtoberfest at Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth.
The contest was sponsored by Zehnder’s, WSGW, Tomac Pumpkin Patch, Le Creuset and Michigan
Sugar Company.
Twenty-eight participants took part in the event, competing in three categories: Soup, Sweet and Savory.
Volunteer judges chose the top three dishes in each category.
Here is a list of the top three finishers in each category. Each of them received a prize package, including
white granulated sugar from Michigan Sugar Company.
Soup Category
1st Place – Pam Hornbacher-Retzler, Caro – Chipotle Butternut Squash Soup
2nd Place – Richard Rizzio, Troy – Squash Chowder
3rd Place – Rhonda Marvin, Laingsburg – Sauerkraut and Squash Soup
Sweet Category
1st Place – Susan Nickels, Farmington Hills – Chocolate Zucchini Praline Torte with Pumpkin Caramel
Buttercream
2nd Place – Carol Socier, Bay City – Harvest Time Pumpkin Cake
3rd Place – Donna Bardocz, Howell – Well-dressed Pumpkin Cheesecake
Savory Category
1st Place – Sally Sibthorpe, Shelby Township – Chicken, Squash and Swiss Strudels
2nd Place – Melissa Kildow, Grand Blanc – Sizzling Squash Dumplings
3rd Place – Linda Schmidt, Kawkawlin – Zucchini Wrapped Chicken Enchilada Supreme
In addition, two other competitions took place during Squashtoberfest. The first was The Best Creative
Homemade Jam, Jelly or Preserve contest with the winners selected by a vote of those in attendance. Here
are the winners:
The Best Creative Homemade Jam, Jelly or Preserve contest
1st Place – Pamela Gilbeau, Dearborn – Michigan Sour Cherry Vanilla Bean Preserves
2nd Place – Pam Hornbacher-Retzler, Caro – Santa’s Fuzzy Navel Jam
3rd Place – Cheryl Williams, Bay City – Pumpkin Pie Jam
New this year to Squashtoberfest was the Pati Lalonde Culinary Stars Competition, featuring students
from the Bay-Arenac Career Center, Saginaw Career Center and Tuscola County Technology Center
competing for cash prizes. The competition honored Pati Lalonde, a longtime reporter and writer for The
Bay City Times who was dedicated to coverage of the culinary arts.
Each team prepared a cake, pie and bread for the panel of judges. The first-place team received $1,000;
second place took home $500 and the third-place team won $250. The event was sponsored by Zehnder’s,
WSGW, Michigan Sugar Company, MLive Media Group and Best Real Estate Janca & Associates.
Here is how the teams finished:
Pati Lalonde Culinary Stars Competition
1st Place – Saginaw Career Center – CaDora Bailey, Deavian Smith and Santiago Tillman (Julie Ivan,
instructor)
2nd Place – Tuscola County Technology Center – Kayla Carter, Lexie Gast, Shaianne Laughner,
Gabrielle Lesko and Trisha Vanderpool (Bob Zehnder, instructor)
3rd Place – Bay-Arenac Career Center – Ashley Avery, Kristen Holsworth and Victoria Toureau
(Denise Fahrenbruck, instructor)
Other Squashtoberfest activities included a cookie-decorating contest, free samples of soup, sweets and
savory dishes for those in attendance and a presentation about gourds by Tomac Pumpkin Patch.
