And the Winners of the 2023 "Claw-some" Crab Cake Bake-Off Are.....
Announcing the Results of the Oregon’s Adventure Coast: Coos Bay, North Bend, Charleston Inaugural Crab Cake Baking Competition!
You might have heard our announcement last spring about Oregon’s Adventure Coast’s first-ever “Claw-some” Crab Cake Bake-Off . The inaugural cake-baking competition invited amateur and professional bakers to create a crab-inspired cake (bakery cakes, NOT actual crab dishes) for a chance to win a complimentary two-night stay on Oregon’s Adventure Coast: Coos Bay, North Bend, Charleston, with lodging, activities and some delicious dining options. Not to mention, bragging rights as Oregon’s Adventure Coast’s best crab cake baker! Each baker was asked to craft a crab-themed cake to represent Oregon’s Adventure Coast: Coos Bay, North Bend, Charleston, and document the process and the finished product.
The response was overwhelming! After dozens of entries featuring incredible and creative cakes, six judges had the nearly impossible task of selecting the winners in three categories: Professional, Amateur Adults, Amateur Kids. Each cake was judged for its creativity, ability to incorporate the theme, crab imagery and coastal style.
Without further adieu, the winning bakers and the names of their crustacean creations are as follows:
1st Place Winner Professional Bakers Category: Amy Bennette - What the Crab?!
*Amy shared with us the meaning of her cake: ‘What the Crab?!’ is my quirky interpretation of a crab-themed cake, where a wizened old octopus finds that his dinner, a Dungeness Oregon Coast Crab, has escaped him. All the elements of this amazing cake were edible.
2nd Place Winner Professional Bakers Category: Sasha Sterner - Invasion of the Crabs
3rd Place Winner Professional Bakers Category: Kaitlyn Barnette - Long Time, No Sea
1st Place Winner Amateur Category: Stacey Tigner- Loy The Crab Feed Cake
Stacey shared her experiences with us that inspired this amazing cake: I’m originally from Eugene and ever since I can remember I would go crabbing with my grandparents up and down the Oregon Coast. I’ve had crab from all over and you still can’t beat the dungeness and this is the best way to enjoy them and what inspired my cake. Newspaper laid out on the table with clarified butter and all you need to do is start cracking! I added the chowder and slaw to round out the coastal meal experience.
2nd Place Winner Amateur Category: Jamie Butcher - Tide Pool Explorers
3rd Place Winner Amateur Category: Lisa Newlands - The Old Crab and the Sea
1st Place Winner Kids Category: Catherine Reynolds - Seaside Beach
Catherine’s Mom was our 3rd Place Winner in the Professional category! We are pretty sure she will be following in her Mom’s footsteps.
2nd Place Winner Kids Category: Alyssa Guido - “C is for Crab”
3rd Place Winner Kids Category: Daniel Vermilyea - The Boating
Second & Third Place winners in each category received a goodie basket of Oregon’s Adventure Coast products.
A GREAT BIG THANK YOU!
We want to thank everyone who entered our first annual “Claw-some” Crab Cake Bake-Off - the creativity and the craftsmanship we saw from these bakers truly inspired us. If you were unable to enter this year’s contest, do not worry! The response was so positive, we’re confident the Claw-Some Crab Cake Bake-Off will be back and even better next year! Be sure to follow us on social media and keep an eye on our blog for announcements!
Get a load of some of the other incredible entries!
Let us help you plan your next adventure on Oregon’s Adventure Coast: Coos Bay, North Bend, Charleston today! Visit our featured adventures page and our trip ideas page to find more travel ideas and inspiration, and/or contact the Coos Bay – North Bend Visitor & Convention Bureau.
You can also follow Oregon’s Adventure Coast Facebook, @travelcoosbay on Instagram , and TikTok to find inspiration on the best spots to visit, eat, stay and explore any time of the year. Request your FREE visitor’s packet today !
