MINNEAPOLIS -- McGlynn's Bakery here will face off against two independents in the first cake decorating contest to be held during the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association's convention here.
la Stromberg from Market Place Foods, a five-unit independent supermarket in Minot, N.D., and Sherry L. Lofquist of Elmers Country Market, a single-unit independent, in Escanaba, Mich.
"It was very difficult narrowing the entrants down to three. We went back and forth with the photos. It took us three days to choose," said Carol Christison, IDDA executive director.
Contestants were asked to submit a series of photographs and a few paragraphs describing their experience. The 30 entries were judged by what the photographs showed, Christison said.
The judges perused the photos for decorating technique excellence -- that color application was careful and trimmings were uniform in size, she added.
Judges who will evaluate the final contestants' techniques and creativity during the contest are Sue Walker, a marketing tech consultant/decorator for Rich Products, Buffalo, N.Y.; Marilyn Lawson, district sales manager at Maplehurst Bakeries, Brownsburg, Ind.; and Gilles Renusson, chair of the U.S. World Pastry Cup Team and advanced pastry chef/instructor at Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, Mich.