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WILLIAMSTOWN The 2009 edition of The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Cookbook tasting party was held Wednesday.

Thirty-five finalists chosen from the 500 recipes entered in eight categories in the annual tourney competed for the year-long bragging rights of being the best cook in the Mid-Ohio Valley and the top prize of $750 in upscale knives and kitchen utensils from Fulton Inc. in Parkersburg.

The winner will be announced on Nov. 22 with the publication of the 55th annual cookbook.

Coordinated by Sharon Coleman of The News and Sentinel and emceed by Chef Yancy Roush, judges were Patty Christopher, a food columnist for the newspaper; Kiki Angelos, restaurateur and accomplished cook; Sarah Jalbert; Dave Rudie, executive chef at Parkersburg Country Club, and Teresa Tebay, 2008 grand champion.

Tebay, who won the grand prize with her recipe for cheese cake truffle bombs, said being a judge was as exciting as being a contestant but with less work.

"I love it I'm as excited as I was participating last year," she said. "This year all I had to do was come here and get ready for all the good food."

Tebay said she entered items in a majority of the categories in the six years before her 2008 win. As a judge Tebay said she will look at the recipes and see if she can taste the items listed in the recipe.

"When I taste something I see if I can taste the things in the recipe," she said.

Patty Christopher said while the judges consider the presentation of the foods, the most important part in making he choices was the taste.

"It's all personal taste," she said. "Everybody has different tastes; I love okra but some people can't stand okra."

Roush said the quality of the food and the presentation of the food have improved over the years.

"Every year it just gets better, and the food just gets better," he said. "There was a time when you could just bring the soup in and just sit on the table. You can't do that now."

As for the food, he said the entries are the best.

"I'm amazed at what they brought us; this is top quality," he said.

The tasting party was at the Williamstown Woman's Club building.

Finalists and the categories were:

Soups: Carrot Soup Puree, Connie Childress, Parkersburg; Butternut Squash and Apple Soup, Jane E. Burdette, Parkersburg; Autumn Harvest Potato Soup, Debbie Martin, Mineral Wells; Veggie Chicken Soup, Lora Ingram, Cairo; Seafood Gumbo, Philip Stoneking, Parkersburg.

Main dishes: Cornish Game Hen with Coconut Rice, Judy Piersall, Marietta; Tuscan Crockpot Pasta, Janet Rogers, Belleville; Amazing Venison Rolls, Stacy Morgan, Vincent; Pesto Lemon Chicken Ravioli, Andrea Deem, Parkersburg; Vegetable Stuffed Fish Roll-Ups, Cheryl Oplinger, Vienna.

Side dishes: Rice Casserole, Amanda Deems, Vienna; Cranberry-Apple Casserole, Jan Heron, Vienna; Doc's Best Jerky, Jeremy Doc Moore, Belmont; Mandarin Orange Sweet Potato Casserole, Mrs. Joseph C. Snyder, Parkersburg; Vidalia Onion Pie, Tresha Coe, Washington, W.Va.

Salads: Dijon Chicken Salad, Janet Atkinson, Williamstown; Garbanzo Bean Salad, Patricia Burdine, Williamstown; Bloody Mary Tomato Salad, Vickie Davis, St. Marys; Peas and Carrots Tortellini Salad with Pesto, J. Patrick Hall, Smithville, W.Va.; Dilly Shrimp Salad, Shannan Allen, Mineral Wells.

Appetizers: Holiday Appetizer Wreath, Anna McQuaid, Williamstown; Mini Crab Cakes, Jim McLean, Vienna; Cranberry Crab Meat and Cream Cheese Appetizers, Tammy Morrison, Newport; Cream Puff Minis with Chicken Salad, Debby Carouthers, Belmont; Brie En Croute, Stephen Jones, Walker.

Breads: Cantaloupe Bread, Darlene Enoch, Leroy, W.Va.; Sweet Braided Loaves, LaChresia Bogardus, Coolville; Garden Biscuits, Michael Matthews, Belpre; Crescent Rolls, Jean H. Cronin, Harrisville; World's Best Walnut Zucchini Bread, Jean Wilkinson, Washington, W.Va..

Desserts: S'More Cheesecake, Matt Petty, Marietta; Pumpkin Carole, Carole Jones, Waverly; Caramel Apple Cheesecake, Anna Dean, St. Marys; Caramel Pumpkin Delight with Cream Cheese Frosting, Linda Nichols, Parkersburg; Apple Dapple Cake, Peggy Cisco (via Billie Bailey,) Parkersburg.

Winners were:

Soups: First place, Butternut Squash and Apple Soup, Jane E. Burdette, Parkersburg; second, Autumn Harvest Potato Soup, Debbie Martin, Mineral Wells, and third, Seafood Gumbo, Philip Stoneking, Parkersburg.

Main dishes: First place, Pesto Lemon Chicken Ravioli, Andrea Deem, Parkersburg; second, Vegetable Stuffed Fish Roll-Ups, Cheryl Oplinger, Vienna, and third, Cornish Game Hen with Coconut Rice, Judy Piersall, Marietta;

Side dishes: First place, Vidalia Onion Pie, Tresha Coe, Washington, W.Va.; second, Cranberry-Apple Casserole, Jan Heron, Vienna, and third, Rice Casserole, Amanda Deems, Vienna.

Appetizers: First place, Cranberry Crab Meat and Cream Cheese Appetizers, Tammy Morrison, Newport; second, Holiday Appetizer Wreath, Anna McQuaid, Williamstown, and third, Cream Puff Minis with Chicken Salad, Debby Carouthers, Belmont.

Salads: First place, Peas and Carrots Tortellini Salad with Pesto, J. Patrick Hall, Smithville, W.Va.; second, Dilly Shrimp Salad, Shannan Allen, Mineral Wells, and third, Garbanzo Bean Salad, Patricia Burdine, Williamstown.

Breads: First place, Garden Biscuits, Michael Matthews, Belpre; second, World's Best Walnut Zucchini Bread, Jean Wilkinson, Washington, W.Va. and third, Cantaloupe Bread, Darlene Enoch, Leroy, W.Va.

Desserts: First pace, Caramel Apple Cheesecake, Anna Dean, St. Marys; second, Caramel Pumpkin Delight with Cream Cheese Frosting, Linda Nichols, Parkersburg, and third, Apple Dapple Cake, Peggy Cisco (via Billie Bailey), Parkersburg.