Chava Field-Green | Sep 10, 2015


The first annual Sharbot Lake Farmers Market Butter Tart Challenge was held

on Sept. 5. It was a sweet farewell to summer and a taste of the cooler baking season ahead.

Out of a total of 15 entries the winner of the Tastiest Butter Tart In Town medallion and $50 grand prize was Jocelyn Harpell of Jossy’s Chill and Grill. Jocelyn credits her mother Annabell Hill (pictured) for the family recipe and shares the 2015 title with her. Jossy’s used to sell Rising Bun butter tarts but since they are no longer available, Annabell and Jocelyn have been making their own while they prepare their vegetable-based gravy for other dishes. “And they’ve just gone viral” said Jocelyn Tuesday morning.

The certificate and crown are already posted above the delicious morsels that you can try for yourself at Jossy’s on Highway 7. The crown will be passed on to next year’s winner.

Second place was awarded to Molly Ducharme and third place went to Glenys Bender. They each received a litre and a half-litre of Conboy’s maple syrup respectively.

Each tart was quartered, and given to the judges. The Butter Tart boys and Butter tart girl served the remainders to the audience members and market-goers.

The panel of butter tart experts included Ludwig Ratzinger, professional pastry chef and chocolatier. He acted as head judge in the event of any disputes. Alongside him was Megan McKenzie of Seed to Sausage, which sells artisanal cured meats and specialty foods.

Cerridwyn-Cox Henderson, intern gardener and market vendor with Good Golly Gardens brought a youthful appetite as well as vast experience of pie eating to the judges’ table. Victor Heese was pleased to be asked to be a judge for the event. The councilor for Central Frontenac said, “It’s my duty to over-indulge.” Rounding out the judges' table was local beekeeper Virgil Garett with over 78 years of sweetness under his belt.

“I understand that the judges' gastronomic enthusiasm waned somewhere between the 8th and 10th tarts, but they soldiered on through the 15th”, said co-organizer and Sharbot Lake Market manager, Mary de Bassecourt.

De Bassecourt and fellow organizer, local chef and food enthusiast Andrea Duggan would like to thank everyone who submitted their entries, as well as Hazuki Heese who tallied the scores; Donna Laroque for her poster design; the Butter Tart Boys James and Ryan Howlett, sons of vendor Rustic Roots Farm; and the Butter Tart Girl Izabella Giroux.

The Sharbot Lake Farmers Market will continue to run every Saturday 9am to 1pm until Thanksgiving.

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