Taste-testers pick the winners at Winter Lights Festival
Milford. There was little room to move as each taster picked up their sample cups of chili and mac-n-cheese, prepared by restaurants and home cooks alike, then washed them down with delicious local brews. After several samples and careful consideration, the tastes picked their three top choices in each category, then worked it off with dancing to the music of Marc Von Em.
Milford /
| 23 Jan 2020 | 04:29
A big U-shaped line made it possible for tasters to try 28 different entries, and return to try their favorites all over again. (
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Kara Luposello (
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Among this who planned the event were Mike Zimmerman with Milford Borough Recreation, Deborah Bailey with Bailey Design and Advertising, and Mike Carson, who organized the mac-n-cheese and chili contest. (
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Beth Delricco, chair of Milford Borough Parks and Recreation (
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Carol Pranga, left, is publisher of the new magazine Milford Neighbors. "It's a social media experience in print form that showcases the community," she said. "Each month an in-depth view of one family is featured." Pranga also makes delicious mac-n-cheese. (
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People starting to jam up where the sample cups were passed out. (
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Debbie Ruth with Johnny and Joe Andriac (
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Denise Fitzpatrick (left) with Loraine Gregory, wife of former mayor Skip Gregory. Skip selected and arranged an entire book of postcard from the past titled "All Roads Lead to Milford." (
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Here and New Brewing Company (
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Pat Moulton and her husband, Jim Snodgrass. Both serve on the board of the Ecumenical Food Pantry and volunteer endless hours to its success and feeding the hungry. (
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Brendan, Marissa, and Lincoln Sheldon with Log Tavern Brewery's Joe Fischer (
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Shawnee Craft Brewing Company at Shawnee on Delaware (
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John and Sarah Struble (
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Last Leg Cidery, where the motto is "How do you like them apples?" (
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Marisa Sheldon and Lincoln Sheldon (
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People search for spots at the tables, where they taste-tested ma- n-cheese and chili and sampled local craft beers. (
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Milford's Marc Von Em entertained the crowd with soulful, acoustic-driven, pop-rock. He's a prolific songwriter and consummate entertainer with three studio albums. He has toured the world with The Rob Thomas Band (Matchbox 20) and performs as a solo artist at venues throughout the tristate and Hudson Valley region. (
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Marc Von Em serenaded children and adults as they danced and tasted and laughed. (
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People search for spots at the tables, where they taste-tested mac-n-cheese and chili and sampled local craft beers. (
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People starting to jam up where the sample cups were passed out. (
)
A U-shaped line made it possible for tasters to try 28 different mac-n-cheese and chili entries at Milford's Winter Lights Festival on Saturday.
And they returned to try their favorites all over again, just to be sure they picked the real winner in the annual contest, one taster told The Courier.
There was little room to move as each taster picked up their sample cups. Many stopped to try at least one of the several local craft beers available as they returned to their seats. Sampling and voting ended at 2 p.m., while the music and brews continued for another hour.
Milford's Marc Von Em entertained the crowd with soulful, acoustic-driven pop-rock. He's a prolific songwriter and consummate entertainer with three studio albums to his credit. Von Em has toured the world with The Rob Thomas Band (Matchbox 20) and performs as a solo artist at venues throughout the tristate and Hudson Valley region.
Price Chopper sponsored the event.
Here are the winners:
Chili winners:
● First place: Bens Fresh, Port Jervis, N.Y.
● Second place: Roastin' Beasts BBQ
● Third place: Jay Lyon
Mac-n-cheese winners:
● First place: The Dimmick Inn, Milford, Pa.
● Second place: Tre Amici Ristorante Italiano, Narrowsburg, N.Y.
● Third place: Sandra Cline
Participating home chefs:
● Kim Hart
● Justin Frable
● Sandra Cline
● Carol Pranga
● Taffy Banghart
● Scott Shadis
● Dan Heinz
● Donna Zimmerman
● Sarah Sutton
● Kurt Brink
● Jason Lyon
● James Furmman
● Rocco Depompe
● Pron Depomay
● Peg Parlapiano
● Dan Heinz
● Leanne LePalme
● Heidi Kennedy
● Diane Bell
● Rick McCallum
● Susan Whitenack
Participating restaurants:
● Ben's Fresh
● Mountain House Tavern & Grill
● The Dimmick Inn
● Tre Amici Ristorante Italiano
● Bar Louis at The Hotel Fauchere
● 403 Broad
● Roasting Beasts BBQ