Calling All Cooks – 2023 Blue Hill Fair Cooking Contests

The 2023 Blue Hill Fair will be held August 31- September 4, 2023 and truly is a "Down to Earth" Country Fair.

Like thousands of Mainers I spend part of my Labor Day Weekend at the Blue Hill Fair. It is so much fun, and it brings back so many memories of when I used to enter food in the Bermuda Agricultural Exhibition, held every year in April. Heck, I even won a ribbon for brownies or cookies!

My "job" the past couple of Labor Days has been to be a judge at the Whoopee Pie contest. And I'm honored to be a judge this year too!

Now this year, they are having a Whoopie Pie Contest, and a Wild Blueberry Pie Baking Contest as well as a Blue Hill Fair "Chopped" contest!

Whoopie Pie Contest

There are 2 divisions: 1 for ages 0-15 and then another for ages 16 and up. Each division has a Traditional and Non-Traditional Category. Entries for both divisions are accepted in the Exhibition Hall on Monday, September 4th until 12 noon. Judging begins at 1 p.m.

Prizes for Ages 0-15 for each category: 1st - $75; 2nd -$50 and 3rd - $25

Prizes for Ages 16+ for each category are 1st - $100; 2nd - $60 and 3rd - $30

Traditional Whoopie Pies are defined as a chocolate sandwich with a plain filling.

Non-traditional Whoopies - "Downeast" whoopie pie made with ingredients you feel best represent Downeast Maine. Any flavor sandwich and filling of your choice.

Everyone must supply 2 whoopie pies. Traditional Whoopie Pies are judged on a scale of 1-10 based on taste and texture. Non-traditional are judged on a scale of 1-10 baed on taste, texture and creativity. An extra point will given for the most fun or creative name.

For a full list of whoopie pie rules, click HERE

Wild Blueberry Pie Baking Contest

All pies must meet State of Maine regulations. These include: Use only blueberries for fruit. Pie must me two crusted. Pies must be accompanied by the complete recipe, printed on a recipe car, which should include the complete list of ingredients, and instructions for the filling and crust.

Pies will be accepted until 12 noon on Saturday, September 2nd, with the judging starting at 1 p.m.

Prizes - 1st place - $100; 2nd place - $60 and 3rd place - $40

To see a full list of rules click HERE

Blue Hill Fair "Chopped"

Items may be entered at the Exhibition Hall on Saturday, September 2nd from 8 a.m. to Noon. Judging will take place at 1 p.m. after the Pie Contest.

This year, you will need to create a dessert, pastry or bread using all of the ingredients. This year's required ingredients include

Maine Wild Blueberries
Zucchini
Oatmeal
Yogurt
Bonus Item - Honey (not required but will earn bonus points)

In addition to the above required items, contestants may use up to 6 other ingredients such as flour, milk, sugar, eggs, butter, fruit etc. Contestants may use as many herbs and spices including salt and pepper as they wish and those do not count towards the 6. Points will be deducted for the use of pureed ingredients.

The recipe must be submitted with the entry. Contestants must submit 3 samples or their item on a plate or dish.

Judging rubric