Coconut Cake
[with optional Lemon Filling]
and Cream Cheese Frosting
Decoyise Brown of Waldorf, MD
Decoyise Brown of Waldorf, MD took home the $500 First Prize Wednesday, April 27 at the Happy Hour Finals for the Makes-Me-Wanna SHOUT! Coconut Cake Challenge presented by Eatonville Restaurant and Church Lady Cake Diaries documentary project. Decoyise’s cake will appear on the Eatonville Restaurant menu in June.
1st Prize Winner Decoyise Brown
Decoyise, a receptionist at the Hogan Lovells law firm in downtown DC, was inspired to create her coconut cake recipe as a tribute to her mother whose coconut cake was a family favorite. Her mother, who is deceased, never left a recipe. Decoyise’s recipe was created from memory of her mother’s cake including fresh grated coconut. She’s already passing down the techniques for her prize cake to her youngest daughter, Charlotte who resides with Decoyise and is her mother’s “main assistant and taster.”
The five finalists’ cakes, selected by a public and judged tasting semifinals in March, were displayed for guests and the official judges. Only the judges were allowed to vote and rate each cake by Taste and Texture, Appearance, Originality, and Cake Story. In addition to the first prize, the judges awarded two cash prizes to the 2nd and 3rd place winners. The contest provided its own cliff hanger with a tie for 2nd place. Per the contest rules the tie breaker was determined by the highest score in the “originality” category. Runners up received gifts.
Second prize ($300) went to Christine Perez of Washington, DC for her Coconut Cake with Pineapple, Bananas, Toasted Coconut, and Sugared Pecans; Third prize ($200) went to Alexis Echols of Washington, DC for her Coconut Cake with Key Lime Mousse Filling, and White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting. Stephanie Woodrow (Chocolate Coconut Macaroon Cake), and Lindsey Wahowiak (Coconut “Oatmeal Cookie” Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting and Nuts) of Washington, DC were the runners up.
left to right: Brenda R. Miller, Andy Shallal, Garret Fleming, Lauren DeSantis
Judges for the Makes-Me-Wanna SHOUT! Coconut Cake Challenge finals included Brenda Rhodes Miller, author of The Church Ladies’ Divine Desserts and Sweet Recollections, The Laying on of Hands, and The Church Ladies’ Celestial Suppers and Sensible Advice; Andy Shallal, owner of Eatonville Restaurant; Lauren DeSantis of “Capital Cooking with Lauren DeSantis”; and Eatonville Executive Chef Garret Fleming.
A portion of the proceeds from the Final Five went to Miriam’s Kitchen.
Photos courtesy of Miriam’s Kitchen.
