C Marie Secret Seduction Takes Top Prize at 12th Springfield Rotary Gourmet Food Truck Competition
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SPRINGFIELD -Twenty-seven food trucks rolled into Veterans Park in Springfield Saturday for the 12th Springfield Rotary Gourmet Food Truck Competition, but only one of them rolled out of town as the grand prize winner.
C Marie’s Sweet Seductions, from Springfield, Ohio, earned the $5,000 grand prize for its signature deep fried banana pudding. The winner was determined by a panel of local judges, as well as anonymous roving judges during the event.
“I tried to think outside the box. I thought my deep fried banana pudding would take it since everytime they try them they say how good they are. I can’t believe we won!” said owner, Christy Williams.
Bacon, St. Paris, Ohio, was named the $2,500 runner-up for their jam and cheese quesadillas. Lasang Pinoy Filipino Eats from Independence, Kentucky, was awarded the $1,500 third place prize for their chicken and pork bbq skewers.
Judges determined winning dishes based upon a combination of flavor/taste, presentation/visual appeal and creativity/originality. The panel included:
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Kameron Slusher, owner of Diamond Dogs and Career-Tech Educational Assistant at Springfield-Clark Career Technology Center
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Lisa Freeman, chef and owner of Torte & Iron Cafe
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Ashaki Daugherty, chef and owner of Kula Signature Catering
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Brooke Spurlock, Cox Media
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Brian Patterson, Young’s Jersey Dairy
Over 700 attendees used the Springfield Food Truck mobile app to vote for their favorite truck throughout the event, with Lasang Pinoy Filipino Eats taking home the “People’s Choice” $1,000 prize.
In addition to the competition’s extensive food truck line-up, this year’s event featured:
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The Springfield Rotary Cruise-In Car Show, which showcased Batmobiles along with classic cars and trucks.
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An arts and crafts show presented by Crafts for a Cause, featuring talented artisans selling their goods during the competition.
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A beer garden at Veterans park with seltzers, draft beer and locally-sourced wine.
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A football game viewing party featuring Wittenberg University vs. Wabash University on the Veterans Park jumbotron.
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A “Toy Story 4” showing on the Veterans Park jumbotron.
Attendees, both new and returning, continue to praise the Springfield Rotary Club for hosting a top-notch event enjoyed by residents from across the region.
While food truck vendors kept their sales revenue from the day, all money raised from concession sales, corporate sponsorships and donations benefit the many charitable causes of the Springfield Rotary Club.
The amount raised from the previous 11 years of the event totals more than $400,000.
“Every year we strive to bring more Springfield community members together with good food and family-friendly activities,” said Eddie Bell, past Rotary president and Food Truck Competition marketing committee chair.
