Stefanie Knowlton

Statesman Journal

The winner of Gerry Frank's Chocolate Layer Cake Contest at the Oregon State Fair Sunday has a confession.

Her winning entry, which ousted previous winners from multiple decades, was her first cake that didn't come from a box.

Amy Lewis of Corvallis selected the recipe from allrecipes.com based on its reviews, although she did modify the frosting. She never even tried it before boldly presenting it Gerry Frank, owner of Konditorei and the judge of the state's finest amateur chocolate cakes for the past 55 years.

"I didn't think I had a chance. There were so many lovely cakes," she said.

Frank tasted 49 decadent chocolate confections of all shapes, sizes and shades from white chocolate to the richest brown. Chocolate roses, swirls, curls, sprinkles, chips and drizzles adorned the cakes.

Oregon's most celebrated chocolate cake connoisseur took at least two bites of each cake and entertained the crowd of nearly 200 in between samples. He sprinkled out chocolate trivia such as "chocolate has the same amount of caffeine as one cup of coffee."

And the crowd ate it up, especially his personal invitations to sample Konditorei creations on stage. One woman asked if she could hug Frank, to which he gladly said yes.

"He is such a sweetheart," said Silverton resident Beverly Ferguson.

She decided to spend her birthday Sunday watching Frank eat cake, including her entry, which didn't place. But she did get a slice from Konditorei in honor of her big day.

Liz King of Oregon City watched Frank consume nearly every bite, and even videotaped him sampling her creation. She took first place in the competition in 2008, which meant she couldn't enter again until this year. King took third place this time around.

Salem resident Mary Folsom earned second place, which brings her total to one seventh place, one fifth place and three second-place ribbons. Others have been baking for Frank for years, many chasing that elusive first-place ribbon.

The Chase family already plans to try again next year. Ryan and Daisha Chase and their 9-year-old daughter Aliyah each baked a cake for the contest, but next year they'll join forces and possibly wow Frank with their chocolate cake skills.

If not, they'll still get into the fair for free for entering a contest and likely snag some Konditorei cake to boot. No one leaves empty handed from Gerry Frank's Chocolate Layer Cake Contest.

sknowlto@StatesmanJournal.com

Gerry Frank's Chocolate Layer Cake Contest results

First: Amy Lewis of Corvallis

Second: Mary Folsom of Salem

Third: Liz King of Oregon City

Fourth: Polly Cappalo of Salem

Fifth: Andrea Eliason of Eugene

Sixth: Julie Saunders (unknown residence)

Seventh: Lee Graham of Salem

Online

Click here for the winning recipe.