California Raisin Marketing Board announces winners of America's Best Raisin Bread Contest

The California Raisin Marketing Board is pleased to announce the winners of its second annual "America's Best Raisin Bread Contest," hosted at the American Institute of Baking in Manhattan, Kan., Oct. 9 and 10. The competition included 30 finalists, made up of both professional and student bakers from across the country in the artisan and commercial categories.

Of the student competitors, Courtney Lipkins of Providence, R.I., and student at Johnson & Wales University, took home the artisan grand prize for her Honey Nut Raisin Bread. Liana Ycikson, of Miami, Fla., also a student at Johnson & Wales University, took home the commercial grand prize for her Cardamom Pecan Raisin Bread.

Of the 30 professional and student finalists, a total of 12 winners were chosen to participate in an all-expense paid visit to California to experience the growing areas and production of California Raisins, and enjoy California cuisine and wines at the Culinary Institute of America Greystone in St. Helena.

Additional prize winners in the artisan category, include:

• Judges prize: Co-winners Mitch Stamm, Johnson & Wales University, Providence, R.I., for his California Gold Rush Bread; and Charles Niedermyer, Pennsylvania College of Technology, State College, Pa., for his Dueling Raisins Bread; and
  
• Ideas prize: Co-winners Luminita Cirstea, Kendall College, Chicago, for her Golden Gate Bread.

For more information, visit www.LoveYourRaisins.com.