Last Updated June 7th, 2023 at 01:43 pm by Lisa

I was delighted to serve as a judge for the cakes and cupcakes competition at the 2017 OC Fair. It was a delicious and inspiring day filled with creative cake pops, fruit-flavored cupcakes and an impressive selection of specialty and gluten-free cakes.

All entries were dropped off that morning in the Culinary Arts area of the OC Promenade on the fairgrounds, and the displays were already stunning.

There were rows upon rows of cakes and cupcakes ready for judging — a breathtaking sight.

Cake and Cupcake Judging:

Final tasting tally: 18 cupcakes, 6 cake pops and 6 specialty cakes. We took one or two bites from each entry, but even so, it amounted to serious cake tasting. I take the job seriously and completed the mission with gusto.

Cake and Cupcakes:

Even with only a bite or two of each entry, three to four hours of tasting added up — hello, sugar overload and a friendly sugar coma!

It was an honor to judge alongside Chef Stéphane Tréand, a world champion pastry chef and chocolatier.

New at the OC Fair: The Pâtisserie by Chef Stéphane Tréand

The Pâtisserie highlighted Chef Stéphane Tréand’s exceptional skills — World Champion Pastry Chef, Chocolatier and recipient of the prestigious Meilleurs Ouvriers de France title. Visitors could learn about this honor and sample a range of exquisite pastries.

Offerings included delicate chocolate bonbons, gelato macaron sandwiches, chocolate orange tarts and other pâtisserie delights, all beautifully presented.

One standout was a lovingly crafted macaron tower, including farm-animal shaped macarons — a charming display available for purchase in the OC Promenade.

Pamela Wnuck, Culinary Supervisor, ensured the Culinary Arts events were spectacular and well organized. She and her team put together an impressive program for fairgoers.

Pamela is pictured holding a macaron from Chef Stéphane Tréand, founder of The Pastry School in Costa Mesa.

The Culinary Arts area was a central attraction at the 2017 OC Fair. The Main Stage hosted daily presentations featuring chefs, bakers, farmers, floral artists, food bloggers, mixologists, brewers, butchers and more.

Attendees could enjoy 30-minute demonstrations and tastings that offered practical tips, kitchen secrets and stories from the experts. These sessions were educational and free, with an information desk on site for details.

The OC Promenade featured many creative culinary displays — Pamela and her team did a beautiful job curating the space.

Winners were announced and ribbons and trophies were on display — the excitement was contagious. Who would take home the top honors this year?

After an afternoon of sweet treats, I found myself craving a large salad and plenty of water — a sensible recovery from so much sugar.

Many thanks to Pamela, Janet and the entire Culinary Arts team for inviting me to be a guest judge. It was a wonderful experience.

Next on my schedule is judging fair food in the Concessionaire’s Cup on July 26th from 1–4 pm. Stay tuned for more fair food adventures.

All the best dishes,

Lisa

XO