Chocolate takes center stage

 Sixty feet of chocolate tables offered an amazing variety of delectable cakes, cookies, pies, and confections at the 28th annual Republican Women’s Chocolate Extravaganza Wednesday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kalispell.

This year’s Best of Show winner was Patricia Albert, proprietor of Miss Patti Cakes of Bigfork. Albert said that her great-grandmother taught her how to bake and that most of her recipes came from her.

“I always liked to bake,” Albert said. “I have a degree in microbiology and one in dental assistance, but at all of my jobs I was always the birthday-cake baker. Each time I baked a cake, I would try to outdo my previous cake. One day my boss suggested that I should go into business for myself.”

Following are the winners:

Professional

Best of Show — Miss Patti Cakes, Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake

Cakes and Tortes, Appearance

First — Miss Patti Cakes; Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake with Bailey’s Ganache Frosting

Second — Delectable Catering & Desserts, Chocolate Mousse Cake with Ganache Frosting

Third — Just Desserts by Joyce Dye, Raspberry Macadamia Nut Torte

Cakes and Tortes, Taste

First — Just Desserts by Joyce Dye; Raspberry Macadamia Nut Torte

Second — Miss Patti Cakes; Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake with Bailey’s Ganache Frost

Third — John’s Angels Catering; Vickie’s Famous Devil’s Food Layer Cake

Pies and Pastries, Appearance

First — Red Lion, Triple Chocolate Pie

Second — Hilton Blue Canyon, Chocolate Coconut Cream Pie

Third — Just Desserts by Joyce Dye. Chocolate Cream Pie

Pies and Pastries, Taste

First — Red Lion; Triple Chocolate Pie

Second — Perkins; Chocolate French Silk Pie

Third — Perkins; Holiday French Silk Pie

Cookies and Bars, Appearance

First — Rosauers; Butter Chocolate Brownies

Second — Just Desserts by Joyce Dye

Third — North Valley Hospital, Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

Cookies and Bars, Taste

First — Great Harvest Bread Co., Triple Chocolate Bars

Second — Janelli’s Deli, Chocolate Hazelnut Baklava

Third — Wheat Montana, Chocolate Macaroons

Candy and Confections, Appearance

First — Hilton Blue Canyon, Chocolate Mousse Squares

Second — Vista Linda Catering, Raspberry Fudge Balls

Third — Vista Linda Catering, French Chocolate Truffles

Candy and Confections, Taste

First — Vista Linda Catering, French Chocolate Truffles

Second — Vista Linda Catering, Amaretto Truffles

Third — Sykes Market and Diner, Chocolate Cheesecake Truffles

Amateur

Best of Show — Kari Lincoln, Charlie Brown Christmas Cake

Cakes and Tortes, Appearance

First — Kari Lincoln; Charlie Brown Christmas Cake

Second — Darlene Andrews, Hot Chocolate Raspberry

Third — LaDawn Weed, Double Chocolate Delight Cake

Cakes and Tortes, Taste

First — Lois Lauman; Flourless Chocolate Cake with Ganache Frosting

Second — Jill Reichner, Chocolate Cupcakes

Third — LaDawn Weed, Double Chocolate Delight Cake

Pies and Pastries, Appearance

First — Sue Corrigan, Turtle Praline Tarts

Second — Anita Hoye, Chocolate Caramel Nut Pie

Third — Donna Danz, Velvety Chocolate Butter Pecan Pie

Pies and Pastries, Taste

First — Donna Danz, Velvety Chocolate Butter Pecan Pie

Second — Donna Danz, Velvety Chocolate Butter Pecan Pie

Third — Ralene Sliter, Mother’s Chocolate Mousse Pie

Cookies and Bars, Appearance

First — Lynne Kleffner, Chocolate Cherry Bars

Second — Anita Hoye, Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars

Third — Charlotte Kostelecky, Black Forest Brownies

Cookies and Bars, Taste

First — Lynne Kleffner, Chocolate Cherry Bars

Second — Debbie Sliter, Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Bars

Third — Janae Moore Donoghue, Chocolate Italian Cream Bars

Candy and Confections, Appearance

First — Jennifer Nichols and Kaleb Mysick, German Chocolate Truffles

Second — Andrea Goudge and Buck Sorenson, Go Griz Bearclaws

Third — Dona Danz, Coconut Chocolate Covered Cherries

Candy and Confections, Taste

First — Nikki Sliter, Fudge

Second — Donna Danz, Coconut Chocolate Covered Cherries

Third — Lois Lauman, Chocolate Covered Peanut Brittle