CAMBRIDGE VALLEY APPLE FESTIVAL A BIG HIT
Despite the threatening skies the First Annual Apple Festival and Oktoberfest held in Railroad Park October 3rd was a fun event for everyone. Generous donations by Perry’s Orchard and Stannard Farms made the children’s activities much more fun. 75 pumpkins were painted by local budding artists and many beautiful apples were munched and enjoyed.
We had 22 Pie Bake-off entries. The public pie tasting offered a smorgasbord of apple pie styles, from traditional to crumb top and lots in between. Many people actually sampled all 22 pies, helping us narrow the field to 5 finalist to enter into the Professional judging. 
The Professional Judges were Chef Rich Wilson (the Cambridge Hotel), Sally King (of King’s Bakery) Cambridge Mayor Mark Spiezio, and Rich, a chef and representative from Sysco Foods. After serious deliberation, awarding points for appearance, taste and originality, the winners were chosen as follows.
First Place: Jessica Bashaw with her Apple Crisp Pie, which now will be featured at the Cambridge Hotel as the Pie ala Mode for three months (she also received a $50 CVCC Gift certificate). Second Place winner is Marcia Podolec with her Pomme Tourte, who received a $50 CVCC Gift certificate, redeemable at any chamber member business. Third Prize was awarded to Christine Pembroke with Aunt Ida's Apple Pie, who will receive a $25 CVCC gift certificate. The Cambridge Valley Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all of the bakers who donated their pies. The Chamber is planning on donating much of the proceeds from the event to the Cambridge Food Pantry, which is in desperate need of donations at this time.
Those who participated in the Pie Eating Contest might not have an appetite for Apple Pie ala Mode any time soon. Ten contestants battled it out in the Eat-off, including Becky Turczak, (see photo). Eating pie with no hands proved to be a difficult but not impossible task, with the First Prize Winner Jimmy Griffith finished his pie (with Ice Cream and milk donated by Stewart’s Ice Cream) winning a $50 gift certificate and Second Place finisher Dylan Nesbitt finished his pie close behind the winning time.
Becky won the hearts of the very enthusiastic audience. Thanks goes out to the Cambridge Hotel for baking the pies for the event and to Stewart’s Ice cream for supplying the ala mode.
The Bennington Beledi Dance Troupe (sponsored by K Ward Realty) was a big hit with their beautiful costumes and graceful moves. Other entertainment was furnished by the Cambridge Hotel, including a local band Dylan and Friends and the evening headliner Sirsy, a very energetic and talented 2 piece band from Albany.
The Cambridge Valley Chamber of Commerce would like to extend our thanks to the Cambridge Fire Department for donating chairs, the Cambridge Hotel for use of the park and thanks again to Perry’s Orchard for their delicious apples, Stannard Farms for the wonderful supply of child sized pumpkins, and all of the bakers who made the event a success.
Also thank you to the dedicated volunteers and chamber members who created and staffed this event, without your time and energy, these events could not happen.
Pie Bake off registration form
CAMBRIDGE VALLEY APPLE FESTIVAL PROMISES TO BE BUSHELS OF FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, SATURDAY OCTOBER 3 10 am-??!
More events have been added to our already full day of Apples and Oktoberfest. For the kids (or the kids at heart) Grin Mobile Laser Tag will be set up in VARAK Park and ready for fun at 11 am. For the adults Black Dog Wines and Liquor will have a spirited taste testing from12 noon -3 pm at their shop at 63 West Main Street, featuring Slyboro Ciderhouse (Hicks Orchard) Cider, Laird's Applejack blend, & Sour Apple Pucker.
DON’T FORGET TO ENTER YOUR PIE! Enter your favorite pie recipe to be judged by the public and our panel of “professional” judges. Win bragging rights to the best apple pie in town and get your name placed on the menu of the Cambridge Hotel and your recipe used by the Hotel for 3 months, as the famous Pie ala Mode. This contest is open to all amateur bakers, budding chefs & chef wannabes,(no professional bakers or chefs please). Pick up a registration form at many local businesses or on-line. To find out more information, please go to www.cambridgenychamber.com and click on the Apple festival page. Or contact the Chamber by phone 677-0887. IS PIE TASTING MORE YOUR SPEED? You can be an official taste tester of all of the pie bake-off entries. Public tasting is open from 11-2, with the semi-final results announced at 2 pm. The winner will be chosen by the professional judges at 6 pm.
A FULL PIE, A LITTLE ICE CREAM AND…. GO! The Cambridge Hotel, K Ward Realty and Stewart’s Ice Cream are sponsoring a pie-eating contest scheduled for 4:00 pm during the festival. Whoever finishes their pie (ala mode of course) first wins!
The Cambridge Apple Festival and Oktoberfest is a celebration of autumn. In addition to the apple pies, there will be children’s activities, prizes for pumpkin painting and apple eating, plus crafts and vendor booths. Look for booths by our Chamber members like Bove Fuels, Eagle Bridge Smoked Meats, Cambridge Historical Society, Cambridge Hotel, Tastefully Simple and many more. If you are a chamber member interested in a booth please contact the chamber.
The Bennington Beledi Dance troupe will entertain the crowds with their belly dancing. There will also be local musicians playing throughout the day.
OKTOBERFEST continues in the evening. The Cambridge Hotel is sponsoring the Albany based band Sirsy along with supplying festive food and drink as the party continues until 11 pm!
Organized by the Cambridge Valley Chamber of Commerce with thanks to sponsors, The Cambridge Hotel, K Ward Realty, Perry’s Orchard, Stewart's Shops, Stannard Farms, Cambridge Historical Society, The Garden Shop and more. For more information go to www.cambridgenychamber.com or call 518-677-0887
September 5 press release
EVERYTHING IS COMING UP APPLES IN CAMBRIDGE OCTOBER 3
Are you brushing up on your baking? Can you make a pie to die for?
Prove it to the community by entering the Cambridge Valley Apple Pie Bake-off. Enter your favorite pie recipe to be judged by the public and our panel of “professional” judges. Win bragging rights to the best apple pie in town and get your name placed on the menu of the Cambridge Hotel and your recipe used by the Hotel for 3 months, as the famous Pie ala Mode. There will also be CVCC gift certificates (as good as cash in chamber businesses) awarded to the first second and third prize winners. This contest is open to all amateur bakers, budding chefs & chef wannabes,(no professional bakers or chefs please). Pick up a registration form at many local businesses or on-line. To find out more information, please go to www.cambridgenychamber.com and click on the Apple festival page. Or contact the Chamber by phone 677-0887.
Would you rather eat pie than bake pie? You can be an official taste tester of all of the pie bake-off entries. Public tasting is open from 11-2, with the semi-final results announced at 2 pm. The winner will be chosen by the professional judges at 5 pm.
GOBBLING PIE is also an option. The Cambridge Hotel, K Ward Realty and Stewart’s Ice Cream are sponsoring a pie-eating contest scheduled for 4:00 pm during the festival. Whoever finishes their pie (ala mode of course) first wins! First and second prizes awarded. You can pre-register for the pie eating contest by picking up a form at local businesses, downloading the form of f the CVCC website or register the day of the event.
The Cambridge Apple Festival and Oktoberfest is a celebration of autumn. In addition to the apple pies, there will be children’s activities, prizes for pumpkin painting and apple eating, plus crafts and vendor booths. The Bennington Beledi Dance troupe will entertain the crowds with their belly dancing. There will also be local musicians playing throughout the day.
OKTOBERFEST continues in the evening. The Cambridge Hotel is sponsoring the Albany based band Sirsy along with supplying festive food and drink as the party continues until 11 pm!
Organized by the Cambridge Valley Chamber of Commerce with thanks to sponsors, The Cambridge Hotel, K Ward Realty, Perry’s Orchard, Stewart's Shops, Stannard Farms, Cambridge Historical Society, The Garden Shop and more.
August press release
Do you think you can make the perfect Apple Pie? We challenge YOU!
Saturday October 3, 2009 the Cambridge Valley Chamber of Commerce is presenting an Apple Festival and Oktoberfest Celebration in Railroad Park, Main Street Cambridge. Beginning at 11 a.m. the park will be filled with the scent of Apple Pies, being tasted, gobbled and admired.
The Chamber is organizing an Apple Pie Bake-off, with the winning contestant’s name to be placed on the menu of the Cambridge Hotel and the recipe to be used by the Hotel for 3 months, as the famous Pie ala Mode. This contest is open to all amateur bakers, budding chefs & chef wannabes,(no professional bakers or chefs please). The winner will be chosen by a combination of public voting and professional judging. To register for the bake-off download the application. Feel free to contact the Chamber by phone 677-0887 for any information.
Do you think you can eat an apple pie (ala mode of course) faster than anyone?
The Cambridge Hotel, K Ward Realty and Stewart’s Ice Cream are sponsoring a pie-eating contest. Whoever finishes their pie first wins!
The Cambridge Apple Festival and Oktoberfest is a celebration of autumn. In addition to the apple pies, there will be dunking for apples, a pumpkin painting contest, crafts and vendors, music, great food and fun. In the evening the Cambridge Hotel is sponsoring the Albany based band Sircy, and the party continues!
Organized by the Cambridge Valley Chamber of Commerce with thanks to sponsors, The Cambridge Hotel, K Ward Realty, Perry’s Orchard, Stewart's Shops, Stannard Farms, Cambridge Historical Society and more.
If you would like to get involved, become a vendor or volunteer to help our Chamber and community? Everyone is appreciated. The next Apple Festival meeting is September 1, 6pm at the Rescue Squad building. Our regular meetings are the second Tuesday of the month at 7pm. Go to our website for more information or feel free to contact the Chamber by phone at 677-0887, by e-mail at cambridgechamber@gmail.com.