Fine fare tests taste buds

Fine fare tests taste buds

Some would argue it’s the best job in the world.

Expert tasters were on the job at the recent Horowhenua AP&I Show, tasting cookies, cakes, jams and preservatives. Among the adjudicators were Marilyn Powdrill, Sylvia Claridge, and Ellen Jones from the Manawatū Federation of Women’s Institutes.

Jars on the tables, stacks of spoons, glasses of water and even a bucket to rinse used spoons are some of the tools of their trade. 

“Taste buds are your main tools when it comes to tasting,” Sylvia said. “You take a sip of water in between to bring it all back to neutral.”

The women have been doing this for a few decades and have it down to a fine art.

“The number of entries has slowly been declining, but the quality has not. It is still there.”  

Judges had noticed that certain arts and craft traditional to the show, such as knitting and crochet, were making a comeback among younger generations, which was encouraging, Sylvia said.

Helen Cole had only a few entries, but managed to nail first prize for her Kiwi Crisps.

“I am so chuffed.” 

The Home Industries have been a staple of the Horowhenua shows for many decades and allow bakers, preservers, and crafty people to exhibit their work. Skills and passion for home industries have often been handed down through the generations and current entrants have had mothers, aunts and grandmothers enter into the show over the past 100 years.

There are sections for cooking, jams, preserves, needlework, crafts, knitting and crochet, creative fibre, handspun and weaving. There are also separate classes for young people: 12-15 years, 8-11 years, 7 years and under inclusive. A photograph class is open to all juniors 15 years and under.

The courts – a theme-based presentation – are often a year-long project for groups. The theme for this year was camping. The Muhunoa East Women this year opted for a more sophisticated camping scene complete with chilly bins, while Skills 4 Living went down to tenting basics.