The number 1111 (which numerologists believe means "a new start in life") was a lucky one for cheesecake-loving Kevin Bogan, who won the "Great 8" Dessert Competition hosted by Cafe Trio (with assistance from The Pitch). His recipe for Bananas Foster Cheesecake received the greatest number of votes online — more than 2,000 people cast votes — from among the recipes submitted by the seven semifinalists.
The second- and third-prize winners were Suzanne Frisse for her Lemon Trio dessert, which accrued 452 votes, and Caroline Knecht's Margarita Pie, with 196 votes.
As first-place winner, home chef Kevin Bogan receives a prize package that includes theater tickets, a one-night hotel stay at the Best Western Seville Plaza, cookbooks, and the privilege of having his winning dessert featured as a dessert special at Cafe Trio for one month, beginning in mid-August.
I asked Cafe Trio co-owner Chris Youngers if he was happy with the prize-winning dessert: "I am. The bananas foster cheesecake is a dessert I think we can execute well here," Youngers says. "But you know, my mom was one of the finalists, too. She entered without telling me. But her recipe only got five votes."
