Marge Kilkelly and the crew from Dragonfly Cove Farm took top honors in the “Battle of the Boards” in Wiscasset Saturday evening, Aug, 19. The inaugural event was hosted by Maine Tasting Center and sponsored by Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce. It drew 13 contestants eager to match their culinary and artistic skills and close to 100 guests eager to sample the cuisine.

Contestants paid an entry fee and prepared appetizers using cured meats, gourmet cheeses, fancy pastries, breads, pates, greens and more. All were creatively arranged based on a theme, and placed on a charcuterie board, a wooden table where they could be sampled. Kilkelly’s theme was called, “The Gang’s on Board” and made to resemble a multi-colored dragonfly in a garden. Members of her culinary team included Diana Strout Mosher, Mary Kate Reny, Thayer Treats and Joe Murray. Kilkelly offers cooking classes and sells foods at her farm at the confluence of the Kennebec and Eastern rivers in Dresden at 5 McCobb Road.

Second place went to Jenni Nagi owner of Maple and Honey Boards with maple and honey theme, featuring foods containing Maine maple syrup and local honey. Third place went to Sara Gross of Maine Tasting Center. She surrounded her cuisine entry with colorful flowers. Susan Robson and Pat Cloutier’s entry called, “Sea Cuterie” was the popular pick for the “People’s Choice Award.” The winners all received cash prizes. The foods were arranged on tables in a spacious tasting room and following the judging could be sampled. Judges were Cheryl “Shep” Rust, owner of the former Le Garage Restaurant in Wiscasset; and Mike Urban, food writer for Yankee Magazine and author of “Unique Eats and Eateries of Maine.”

Next door, guests could enjoy a feast for the eyes – beautiful, food-themed paintings, photographs and mosaics arranged and displayed by The Saltwater Artists Gallery of New Harbor.

Pat Cloutier, executive chamber manager, told Wiscasset Newspaper she was delighted with both the turnout and the venue. “It’s something we’d definitely like to do again next year,” she said.  On sale were copies of the Chamber’s cookbook, “Pleasures from the Earth and Sea” featuring dozens of local family recipes.

The event was also sponsored by Frank Sprague, owner of Sprague’s Lobster, which has been on Wiscasset’s Main Street Pier, also known as the Creamery Pier, for decades. To learn more about WACC and future events visit info@wiscassetchamber.com