Erin Martin, left and Lloyd Sweetser judge the apple pies at Harvestfest on Saturday. Rose Lincoln/Bethel Citizen
BETHEL — At Bethel Harvestfest on Saturday, volunteers Aurora Duffany and Laurie Ann Knowles are drawing four quadrants on two paper plates. They place one slice of apple pie from four different pies in each numbered quadrant. In the middle of the two plates are large dollops of vanilla ice cream.
Lucy Carter’s apple pie took second place, overall, at Harvestfest on Saturday. Rose Lincoln/Bethel Citizen
“Oh man, this is breakfast and lunch,” says Judge Erin Martin of Bethel. “Apple pie is my favorite. I’d rather have pie over cake and apple pie is always my birthday cake.” It is Martin’s first time judging and she and fellow judge, Lloyd Sweetser of Bethel, are taking their roles seriously. Not much talking … just eating.
Four-time judge, Sweetser, says his great grandmother, Ethel, made apple pies and she is his barometer for what is good.
“So the ice cream is like the palate cleanser?” asks Martin.
Veteran Sweetser says when there are many entries, you need water in between tastes. This year there are four entries, but Jessie Perkins, Chamber of Commerce director, said they have had as many as 30 people enter in the past.
Sweetser and Martin savor each bite and dutifully take notes assigning ratings for texture, crust, and flavoring.
Musician Brad Hooper, in the nearby gazebo on Bethel Common, is covering a James Taylor song. “Somebody holds the key,” he sings.
In the end, the judges’ first and second place overall winners are the same. The second overall winner is Lucy Carter of Bryant Pond. She has won before, says Perkins.
“Great crust” and “nice flavoring and spices” are the judges comments for the first place overall and “professional” winner. That pie was made by Brian Inkell, of Berlin, NH. and Androscoggin Valley Hospital.
Stephanie Inman, of Woodstock, was the non-traditional winner and third overall.
With the contest over, people want to try the pies and a line forms to buy a slice.
An excited woman holding a plate with a slice of the winning pie says with a smile, “this one has bourbon.”
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