SOUTHWICK – The Skyline Hop Shop is calling all bakers to bring their best cookie forward.
Skyline, located in the Westfield River Brewery barn on College Highway, is hosting a Holiday Cookie Contest Dec. 13.
The public is invited to participate and bring one dozen of their best cookie, along with the recipe, to Skyline Hop Shop by 3:30 p.m. Dec. 13.
Skyline co-owner, Chef Dan Osella, said only the judges will taste the cookies, each bit of which will be followed by a glass of milk from Cream of the Crop farm.
Osella said he is hoping to taste everything from classic cookies to creative flavors.
“I love to make desserts,” said Osella, who bakes homemade pretzels and bread, as well as cookies, for Skyline.
Contest categories include The Most Original, The Best Tasting, The Most Festive, and The Best In Show.
While the cookies must taste delicious, they also need to look good. Because presentation matters, Osella said one of the judges has an arts background. Other judges will include professional bakers, children, and cookie enthusiasts.
“The leftover cookies will be individually wrapped and donated to the Samaritan Inn,” said Osella.
The Skyline Hop Shop provides lunch and dinner, including Osella’s famous grilled cheese sandwiches, for the brewery. He and business partner Lisa Pac also sell home-brew equipment and ingredients.
Osella said while milk and cookies obviously go together, beer can be a great accompaniment to a cookie.
“Chocolate stouts and sweeter beers, such as milk stouts, definitely go with cookies,” he said.
Although pre-registration is not required to enter the contest, Osella encouraged notice by participants.
“People can stop by and let us know they will be entering, or we have a public event on our Facebook page people can respond to,” he said.
Prizes include gourmet and professional baking gift baskets, including fresh milk donated by Jerald Reinford from Cream of the Crop Farm in Russell.
For more information, visit the Skyline Hop Shop on Facebook or www.skylinehopshop.net
