VERO BEACH — A mouthwatering assortment of scrumptious treats was enjoyed by a dessert loving crowd at the second annual Team Fox Cupcake Challenge at the Heritage Center.
Sisters, Janie Graves Hoover, Judy Graves and Jeane Graves Bartlett originated the concept last year to honor their mother Jeane Graves, who passed away from complications related to Parkinson’s, and raise funds for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, an organization dedicated to finding a cure for the disease.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation established Team Fox as an outlet to raise funds for the foundation through local fundraisers and sporting events. Foundation representatives Kara Lohse and Seanna Bruno flew down from New York this weekend to work the event into their schedule.
“This is a really unique event,” said Bruno. “They’re turning their passion into a fundraiser. We’ve had people hold pancake breakfasts, but this is the first cupcake challenge. These community events are so important to garner public awareness of the foundation.”
Competition was fierce and selecting a winner from the abundance goodies was an enjoyable challenge. Attendees were given ten tickets, and could purchase more, to vote their choices for Best Cupcake, Best Icing and Best Decoration in each of three competitive categories: Individual, Team and Professional.
Judges Laurie Sihombing, Jerry Roden and Adam Chrzan then had the sweet but difficult job of choosing winners from the top five in each category.
“Laurie has tremendous food experience,” said Janie Graves Hoover. “Jerry and Adam are both local attorneys and they’re also lovers of eating and cooking.”
Roden said he would be looking for originality and overall taste adding, “This allows their creative side to come out. As an attorney, I sit in front of judges all day. It’s fun to actually be one.”
“I’m just amazed at the diversity and the work that goes into these,” said Chrzan.
Contestants brought copious quantities of cupcakes, cutting some into bite sized pieces for all to enjoy and creating decorative displays with the remainder.
Alma Lee Loy pointed to one gooey confection and said with a laugh, “That one is sinful!”
Loy was also impressed with the sweet-tart lemon cupcakes baked by Cassie Nicolace, an eighth-grade student at Storm Grove Middle School. Others were as well; the handmade flowers atop her cupcakes earned her the Best (Individual) Decoration award.
“Not only is it good, but can you imagine, at 13 years old, she knows that she wants to go into that as a business.”
Jo Moyer and Sandi Smith offered three different delights, and the gambit paid off. In the Team category, they earned Best Cupcake for a chocolate peanut butter cupcake, Best Icing for red velvet cupcakes with coconut frosting, and Best Decoration for colorful hibiscus flowers atop key lime cupcakes.
In deference to autumn, Lacey Gale proffered pumpkin spice cupcakes with maple icing. Brown sugar pound cupcakes with orange cream cheese frosting garnered a Best (Individual) Icing prize for Rachel Leon.
“Ben went home; he ate too many cupcakes,” said Rosemary Leonard, explaining why the Leo Trio team was a duo. Her other son Ian remained as co-chef to proudly offer butterfly chocolate cupcakes with chocolate chips.
Jacqs Carroll, a 10th grade student at Saint Edward’s School presented a take on s’mores, with graham cracker cupcakes filled with marshmallow cream and topped with chocolate glaze and toasted marshmallow meringue.
Sabrina Sigler presented realistic looking spaghetti and meatball cupcakes. Squiggles of vanilla icing “spaghetti” and strawberry “sauce” were topped with Ferrara chocolate “meatballs”.
Sasha ZeBryk was impressed with Aurora Stein’s lemon cupcakes with strawberry frosting, saying, “They’re light and surprising; my taste buds went whoop!”
Pam McCollum’s chocolate cupcakes, with a ribbon of cream cheese topped with chocolate fudge icing earned her a prize for Best (Individual) Cupcake.
Peggy Dowling’s Slumber Party cupcakes were each topped with adorable edible children made of vanilla wafers, candy and decorative frosting.
Two contestants took a healthier approach, with Steve Hillman’s calypso yogurt and pineapple cupcakes, and Laura Kelley and Gail Rodgers of Team Ganders’ pistachio, fig and olive oil cupcakes.
Jennifer Boksmati of Fillin & Chillin had colorful cheesecake cupcakes with mango icing and gooey Nanaimo cupcakes with vanilla pudding icing. Lori Young of Sweet Creations was all done up for Halloween, with carrot cake cupcakes and cute Halloween toppers.
Kerry Moran and Jennifer Phelps, owners of Sue Ann Bakery offered seasonal apple cupcakes and an “Oh My Gosh Ganache” with chocolate and peanut butter that won Best (Professional) Decoration.
Top honors as Team Fox Best Overall Cupcake was awarded to Gena McCown of Treasure Coast Confections, whose white chocolate cinnamon streusel cupcake with caramel ganache and white chocolate frosting also earned Best (Professional) Icing and Cupcake.
“Our mother always loved to cook,” said Jeane Graves Bartlett, pleased they could honor Jeane Graves in this fashion. “She inspired us to follow our dreams and do things for the community. She would have loved this.”