MORGANTOWN – From 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, August 5, the spicy-sweet aroma of pepperoni rolls will fill the Morgantown Market Place Pavilion on Spruce Street, as area restaurants, bakeries, and bakers compete in the 4th Annual Great Pepperoni Roll Cookoff.
Cookoff attendees will get to sample pepperoni rolls from the competitors, a meal’s worth (or more!) of the competitors’ renditions of West Virginia’s favorite food.
R.J. Nestor is the Executive and Artistic Director of Golden Horseshoe, Inc., the nonprofit organization hosting the cookoff as a fundraiser.
“We are ecstatic to have so many competitors again this year!” Nestor said. “Our Sample-every-roll tickets are completely sold out, but there are still a few 8-roll tickets available.”
Tickets can be purchased at the event, but Nestor suggests buying them in advance online.
“The first half-hour, from 2 to 2:30, is reserved for our all-roll ticketholders,” Nestor explained. “After that, it’s first come, first served for the 8-roll tickets. If you’ve already purchased yours, you can get in close to 2:30 and have your pick.”
The Overall winner in 2016 & 2017, Mid-Atlantic Market (Morgantown), is back to defend two-straight titles. Coop’s Bunns (LaVale, MD), will also be on hand defending wins in the People’s Choice and Traditional categories in 2017.
To reclaim their titles, they will face down a bevy of competitors from throughout the region: Sugar Maple Bakery (Idamay, WV), Atria’s (Morgantown), Emi’s Edibles (Westover), Tygart Valley Bulk Food (Grafton), Laura Thomas (Aurora), Fran’s Quacky Duck (Reedsville), Sew Kneaded (Wallace), Almost Heaven Rolls (Medina, OH), Sweet Ferns (Hugheston), Merlesa Tennant (Morgantown), Rising Creek Bakery (Mt. Morris, PA), and Bobbie Tuggle (Peterstown).
David Scoville is Vice President of Golden Horseshoe Inc.
“Our new judging format worked perfectly last year,” Scoville said, “so we’re keeping it this year. Our judges will award a ‘Most Traditional’ and ‘Most Original’ award in addition to the ‘Best Overall’ award.”
A People’s Choice prize will be awarded as well. “We want you to pick your favorites, too!” Scoville said.
Remaining tickets are $10, and available at the pavilion the day of the event, or online at http://cookofftickets.ghmusical.com. One ticket entitles an attendee to a sample of pepperoni roll from eight of the competitors.
“If little kids, or little appetites, want to come but don’t want to eat,” Nestor said, “they can attend for free. You only need a ticket if you want to eat the pepperoni rolls.”
“And come early!” Nestor added. “It’s all-roll ticketholders only from 2 to 2:30, but after 2:30, it’s first come, first served.”
All proceeds from the cookoff will support Golden Horseshoe, Inc.’s 4th Annual Statewide Tour of Golden Horseshoe, a musical celebrating West Virginia history. Golden Horseshoe, Inc., is a Morgantown-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Visit their website at www.ghmusical.com, or follow cook-off updates at www.facebook.com/goldenhorseshoemusical.
