Competition Winners at Solebrate Festival

The food art competition winners at Solebrate created some stunning fruit carving displays at last month’s competition. Lucky for you, we have the photos to share too!

About a month ago we posted a blog about upcoming food art competitions and Solebrate Food and Music Festival held the first fruit carving event on our list on June 22, 2013.

All entries were ranked by judges as well as the public, who voted for their favorites by adding a poker chip to the containers next to each display. The competition winners of the People’s Choice were determined by counting the chips in each container at the end of the day.

Judge’s Choice Competition Winners

First Place: Dean Murray from Wisconsin – Octopus

This underwater scene by master carver Dean Murray. has nearly 20 different types of fruits, vegetables, herbs, greens and legumes. It took about 5 hrs of carving and an hour to assemble.I had the pleasure of meeting and carving with Dean Murray at the White House at Halloween time. You can see Dean’s pumpkin carving at the White House on a previous blog post. Dean also happens to be a talents sand castle sculptor and cheese carver.

Dean Murray’s underwater scene, complete with a watermelon octopus and other fruity sea life, placed first in the Judge’s vote and third by the People’s Choice vote..

Second Place: Brian Tater Edwards from Ohio – Indian head

Tater Edwards happens to be one of the students on the winning team of the student competition at THE CARVE IV. I featured videos from that event on my last post post.

The judges awarded Ohio’s Brian Tater Edwards’ Native American Totem carving second place. The public vote also awarded this arrangement 2nd place.

Third Place: Titus Arensberg from Ohio – Dragon

While this dragon of carved watermelons by Titus Arensburg won third place in the judge’s vote, it finished in first place with the people’s choice vote.

Fourth Place: Steven Baity from Ohio – Abstract

We were unable to obtain a photo of Steven’s entry but wanted to give him credit for his win.

Fifth Place: David A. Smith from Ohio – Abstract

David A. Smith from Ohio created this abstract work of art from watermelons and finished in fifth place by the judges.

People’s Choice Competition Winners

First Place: Titus Arensberg – Dragon

Second Place: Brian Edwards – Indian head

Third Place: Dean Murray – Octopus

Top left: First Place; Right: Second Place; Bottom Left: Third Place

I announced this carving event and got a Facebook comment from Linda Kay Drysdate saying:

We would like to congratulate all the competition winners on their gorgeous fruit carving displays!