Best bites from Harvest Fair contest

<p>After two weeks of judging entries from more than 100 contestants, the Harvest Fair has announced the winners of its Professional Food Competition, with Best of Show Appetizer going to Ramekins Culinary School in Sonoma for a White Truffle Bread Pudding.</p><p>Judges deemed the savory appetizer to be the best among all the entries because of its “originality, creamy texture and excellent flavors.”</p><p>The Sweepstake Appetizer award was given to Larry Vito of BBQ Smokehouse & Catering in Sebastopol. That award recognizes the contestant who garners the most points overall for all of their entries.</p><p>In the appetizer category, BBQ Smokehouse also won Best Use of Sonoma County Poultry for its Smoked Chicken Wings and Best Use of Sonoma County Vegetables for its Santa Maria Pinquito Beans, along with a dozen other medals.</p><p>Most of the major award winners will be serving tastes of their bread, olive oils, vinegars, appetizers and desserts from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 26 during the Harvest Fair Awards Night Gala at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. The food awards, along with the wine competition awards, will be announced during the gala.</p><p>Here are the results of the judging in the eight major categories:</p><p>Special awards for appetizers:</p><p>Best Use of Sonoma County Cheese: Brasserie in Santa Rosa for its Humboldt Fog and Tomato Galette.</p><p>Best Use of Sonoma County Beef: Grapevine Catering Company</CF> in Guerneville for the Lavender Scented Beef Tenderloin</p><p>Best Use of Sonoma County SeafoodBig Boys Bar-B-Que in Santa Rosa for a Scallope Martini with Avocado Mousse.</p><p>Best Use of Sonoma County Wine and Best Use of Sonoma County Lamb: Grapevine Catering Company > in Guerneville for the Grilled Lamb Loin with Green Tomato Marmalade</p><p>Best Use of Pork: Fountaingrove Golf Club in Santa Rosa for its Pork Carnitas with Berry Chocolate Mole</p><p>Best Use of Olive Oil: Fountaingrove Golf Club in Santa Rosa for its Pan Seared Lamb Burger</p><p>Bread</p><p>Best of Show French Bread: Costeaux French Bakery of Healdsburg for its Ciabatta Baguette</p><p> Best of Show Specialty Bread: Village Bakery of Sebastapol and Santa Rosa for its Seeded Hearth</p><p>Desserts</p><p>Best of Show Dessert and Best Use of Local Products: Brasserie in Santa Rosa for its Swedish Cream Cannolis</p><p>Sweepstakes Award, Dessert: The Zinful Chef in Cloverdale</p><p>Cakes</p><p>Best of Show Decorated Cake: Michele’s Corner Custom Cakes in Santa Rosa for the Apple Spice Wedding Cake with Cream Cheese Filling</p><p>Best of Show Cake/PastryOliver’s Marketof Cotati and Santa Rosa for its Pumpkin Cheesecake</p><p>Delicatessen/Sauces:</p><p>Best of Show Delicatessen: Oliver’s Market in Cotati and Santa Rosa for its Pulled Pork Slider</p><p>Best of Pork Charcuterie Angelo’s Meats & Deli in Petaluma for Smoked Sausage</p><p>Vinegar</p><p>Best of Show Vinegar B.R. Cohn Olive Oil Company of Glen Ellen for Raspberry Champagne Vinegar</p><p>Olive Oil</p><p>Best of Show Olive Oil: Deergnaw Olive Oil of Healdsburg</p><p>Wine List:</p><p>Best of Show Wine List: Carneros Bistro & Wine Barin Sonoma</p><p>Best Sonoma County Wine List: Nectar Restaurant and Lounge in Santa Rosa</p>