The Governor's Favorite Pie Contest was a long tradition at the Utah State Fair, but this year it's been changed to a Governor's Favorite Meatloaf Contest.
I'm not kidding.
I've been a volunteer judge at Utah State Fair contests since I became the Standard-Examiner's food editor in 1993, and as long as I can remember, the Governor's Favorite Pie Contest was a prized competition. I recall when Jane McQuade of Clearfield won Gov. Leavitt's contest in 1996 with a raspberry-pear pie. In 2009, Carol Bartholomew's Cherry-Berry Almond Pie took top honors. I judged one of Gov. Huntsman's pie contests, where he told the audience that he and his wife first met when they both worked at Marie Callender's, the contest sponsor.
But last year, the competition was changed to Gov. Herbert's Favorite Muffins Contest, in an effort to switch things up and add some variety, according to Clark Caras, the new executive director of the Utah State Fair.
Caras' last job was in the Governor's Office of Economic Development, "and I have a personal knowledge that one of his favorite foods is meatloaf," he said in a telephone interview.
"In the past, Marie Callender's has been a sponsor, and they are famous for both their pies and their meatloaf," Caras said. "So when we talked about it with our staff, we decided it was something new, different and unique and personal to this governor."
Caras added that the governor had no input on the decision, "Other than when I let him know that's what the contest would be, he had a big smile."
Last week contest coordinator Audrey Hadley invited me to judge this year's governor's contest, and I was a little surprised when I heard we would be judging meatloaf.
It's been my experience that baked goods go over better with fair contests. Fancy pies and cakes offer more of an "wow" factor. The audience can't sample the entries due to public health restrictions, so it's nice to show off foods with visual appeal. Also, baked items such as breads, cookies and muffins usually hold up better when they're transported to the fair, especially if someone is coming from a longer distance, such as Logan, Nephi or even Blanding. Where meat is concerned, contestants will need to use a cooler and put it on ice when transporting it.
But, far be it from me to come between our state's chief executive and his meatloaf. It's nourishing and hearty. And although it's not a naturally "pretty" dish for an audience to "ooh" and "ahhh" over, I imagine it can be gussied up with sprigs of parsley, mashed potato scallops or drizzled sauce.
The Spam contest garnered lots of ingenious entries over the years at the fair, so why not meatloaf?
So if you enter your meatloaf, I'll do my objective best when taste-testing. The contest takes place at the Utah State Fair's Home Arts Building on Thursday, Sept. 15, 6 p.m. The online entry deadline for all the indoor cooking contests is Aug. 26. I couldn't find this contest listed with the other cooking competitions at www.utah-state-fair.com. (Does this mean there's still time for the governor to change his mind and go back to pies?)
If you're a great cook and looking to win few bucks, I'd recommend entering some of these contests. The prize money ranges from around $100-$300, and there are usually smaller prizes for second and third place. In years past, some contests have had only a half-dozen or so entries, so your odds off walking away with a prize are pretty good. Also, you get free entry to the fair, which is a nice bonus.
This year's indoor contests include Fleischmann's Bake for the Cure, C&H Cookie Contest, Ghirardelli Chocolate Championship, King Arthur Great Cake Contest, and Beef: Anywhere, Anytime.
The outdoor cook-offs includes a chili cook-off, the Fresh-Made Salsa Competition, the Utah Beef Council Dutch Oven Mystery Bag Cook-Off, and the Utah Farm Bureau Great American Dutch Oven Cook-Off. Unfortunately, there are fewer opportunities to win this year. Past sponsors, such as Hidden Valley Ranch, Spam, Malt-O-Meal, SACO and Lindsay Olives, dropped their competitions.
Caras wants to stress that you don't have to win a contest in your county fair in order to enter the State Fair. "That's a misnomer."
One word of advice: If you want to enter, read the rules online (see address above) and follow them to the letter. Over the years, I've been sad when great-tasting entries were eliminated because rules weren't followed.
For instance, pies were submitted in a fancy glass plate instead of the specified disposable pan; and recipes contained too many ingredients or not enough of the sponsor product. In one case, someone didn't allow themselves enough time to find a parking space and walk the distance to the fairgrounds and arrived too late to enter.
You'll need an original recipe. Winning cooks often look for something trendy or familiar, and then give it an original twist. Cook your recipe several times to make sure it works.
You have a month until the online entry deadline, so start now!
Valerie Phillips is the former Deseret News food editor. She blogs at www.chewandchat.blogspot.com. Email: vphillips@desnews.com