Scenes From UC s International Edible Book Festival

The crowds admired them – then they ate them. Once again, the annual International Edible Book Festival at the University of Cincinnati, hosted by University Libraries, was a big hit.

Distinguished judges Wayne Hall, Vice Provost for Faculty Development; Tom White, head of University Libraries acquisition and accounting; and Nanda Araujo of DAAP Library had their job cut out for them before the fans started cutting into the entries.

The event is celebrated by book lovers around the world and follows two simple rules: The creations must be edible, and they must have some connection to books.

 The judges announced the following winners of the top three prize categories:

• Best in Show – Through the Looking Glass, by Pam Bach, Langsam Library. “The adaptations and the geographic patterns in the Jello would make Bill Cosby jealous,” pronounced Tom White. In the general prize category, the creation was also declared “Most Reflective.”
• Best Display of Culinary Art – She’s Come Undone, a creation by library associate Tammy Bachtal. Wayne Hall said the cake whale rising out of the book helped garner the award. The edible version of the New York Times Bestseller List was also confirmed the “Best Adaptation of the Oprah Book Club.”
• Most Literate, or Most Like the Book – The Munsell Book of Color, a submission from DAAP Library. Judge Nanda Araujo said the color scheme cupcake creation directly resembled a page of the book, which is a resource for artists and designers.

Other commendations included Most Inspirational for The Life of Pi, made by library assistant Elaine Ignatius; Most Oscar Worthy for Peggy Walker’s Lord of the Rings, a Bundt cake surrounded by doughnuts; and Best Adaptation of a Historical Novel for the ice cream version of Cold Mountain, submitted by instructional services.

The Bridges of Madison County, offered by the College of Applied Science, featured a solid loaf of bread for the covered bridge that was supported by pretzel sticks. It was awarded the Most Romantic entry.

The basket of chocolates representing Rose Einhaus’ vision of Chocolat was honored with the Slimfast Award; How to Eat Fried Worms by Holly Prochaska, a frosted cake frying pan with gummy worms resting on top, was voted “Food Most Likely to Be Served on Survivor,” and her Freckle Juice, inspired by the book by author Judy Blume, was served as a refreshment.

Seabiscuit

(by Rose Einhaus) featured a C-shaped cake with a biscuit to the side, and a not-so-sweet, but still tasty favorite was

Mr. Popper’s Penguins

. Tracy Rebstock’s penguins were made of black olives stuffed with crème cheese, surrounded by tortilla chips.