Culinary History Comes Alive at the Iowa State Fair

DES MOINES, IA (08/15/2018) (readMedia)-- David Russell of Ames won first place and a $25 cash award in the Szathmary Collection of Historic Recipes' South Berwick Sponge Cake competition, judged Tuesday at the 2018 Iowa State Fair.

Contestants were asked to interpret a South Berwick Sponge Cake recipe from an 1860's American cookbook.

Mary Burr of Iowa City earned second place.

Entries were judged on taste, texture and recipe interpretation.

The Szathmary Collection Culinary Manuscripts and Cookbook collection is located at the University of Iowa Libraries.

The Iowa State Fair Food Department is the largest of any state fair in the country. There are 171 divisions, 727 classes and over 9,574 entries at this year's Fair. Food Department judging is held in the Elwell Family Food Center sponsored by Blue Bunny Ice Cream.

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Frequently ranked as one of the top events in the country, the Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. Annually attracting more than a million people from all over the world, the Iowa State Fair located at East 30th and East University, just 10 minutes from downtown Des Moines is Iowa's greatest celebration with a salute to the best in agriculture, industry, entertainment and achievement. Nothing Compares to State Fair Moments, August 9-19, 2018. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org.