Area residents made the acquaintance of Mr. and Ms. Dumpling Thursday night at the York Towne Centre Farmer’s Market. The deliciously cute couple will serve as mascots for Nebraska Czechs of York events including the first ever Yorkfest Dumpling Contest scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 6 at the York Senior Center. Providing appropriate background music for the meet and greet were Jean Lampe (back left) and Pat Carpenter, members of the club.
By Marcia Schlegelmilch York News-Times Posted Aug 22, 2008 @ 04:03 PM York, NE —
Apples, peaches, pumpkin pie; meat, potato, plum ... oh
my! These are the dumplings of which contests are made.
And the Nebraska Czechs of York are hoping cooks will
mix up batches of their own family favorites for entry
into the first ever Yorkfest Dumpling Cook-off.
Dumplings can be found in most every country on earth.
The form and filling may differ but the principal is
same; make a dough of flour, eggs, milk, salt, water
potatoes or bread — add meat, fruit, spices or nothing
at all, and boil until tender.
In Austria the dumpling is known as a “knodel;” in
Poland, a “kluski;” in the Ukraine, “vuska;” Korean
dumplings are “mandu;” while Nepalese dine on “momos.”
And, if in Weimar, Germany, a person could choose to
visit the one and only potato dumpling museum.
Dumplings have been celebrated for years at the Sinking
Spring, Penn. Apple Dumpling Festival and Pageant. North
Dumpling Island, Conn. was named after the very filling
side dish. And Po’s Dumpling Bar is a noted Kansas City
hot spot.
Japanese dumplings called “takoyaki” are made with
octopus and seasoned with pickled ginger. Organizers of
the Dumpling Cook-off don’t expect any entries quite
that exotic, but who knows? There is always the “other
dumpling” category.
Pam Hrmodka of Nebraska Czechs of York says dumpling
chefs will need to bring two batches of dumplings to the
contest; one for tasting by the esteemed panel of
judges; the other for tasking by the public for the all
important People’s Choice Award.
Contestants will be asked to introduce themselves and
tell a bit about their recipe.
“We will be playing ‘Dumpling Jeopardy’ with the
audience. It will be fun,” Hrmodka promises.
Dumplings may be entered in one of the following
categories: meat, potato, fruit and other dumpling.
According to Hrmodka, the “other dumpling” category was
added for the uber-creative dumpling chef.
According to Hrmodka all participants need is, “the
desire to make dumplings. Everyone is invited ... not
just Czechs, Germans or Russians — everyone. Dumplings
are universal.”
On hand at the Saturday, Sept. 6 Yorkfest event will be
renderings of Mr. and Ms. Dumpling, the plump and tender
couple who will serve as mascots for the cook-off and
the October Czech Festival scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 5
at the York City Auditorium.
The York Czech club says, “Don’t be chicken of
dumplings.” Members encourage folks to enter the first
annual Yorkfest Dumpling Cook-off to be held Saturday,
Sept. 6 from 2-4 p.m. at the York Senior Center. For
further information or to register yourself and your
dumplings for the competition visit www.yorkchamber.org
or
www.nebraskaczechs.org/York/Chapt/york.htm.
By Marcia Schlegelmilch York News-Times Posted Aug 22, 2008 @ 04:03 PM York, NE —
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