Grace LaFountain, an eight-year-old girl from New Hartford, New York is the winner of the Loukoumi’s Celebrity Cookbook “Favorite Childhood Recipe” Contest. To view photos, click here.

The aspiring chef had her dream come true and get to cook her favorite recipe, “Great-Grandma Hutchins’ Fudge,” with celebrity chef Cat Cora at Cat’s restaurant Kouzzina on the Boardwalk in Walt Disney World during the Epcot Food and Wine Festival on October 4.  The contest was sponsored by children’s book author Nick Katsoris and is based on Loukoumi’s Celebrity Cookbook, the World Cookbook Award and Mom’s Choice Award winning book featuring favorite childhood recipes by over 50 celebrities. Katsoris flew Grace and a parent to Orlando, Florida for the cooking experience where they stayed at the award-winning Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, accommodations courtesy of the hotel. Click here for more information about the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. The contest invited children ages 4 to 12 to submit their favorite childhood recipes and to complete the statement: “(Recipe Name) is my favorite childhood recipe because... (in 10 words or less).” 10 national finalists were selected from entries all across the country! The kids chosen were asked to record short videos of them in the kitchen cooking their favorite childhood recipes, which were voted on by the public on the LOUKOUMI facebook page.  The facebook voting counted for 1/3 of the overall score.  The other 2/3 vote was calculated by a judging panel including Cat Cora, Nick Katsoris, FOX News Anchor Ernie Anastos CBS News Anchor Alexis Christoforous, Executive Director of Chefs for Humanity Karen D’Attore, Actor/Producer Frank Dicopoulos, Senior Director of Radio and Entertainment Marketing at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Teri Watson and others. The remaining 9 national finalists, their ages, individual award distinctions and their winning recipes are as follows: Jacob Cook, 7, Alpine, NJ – Best Overall Video – Peanut Butter & Banana French Toast Irene Zoe Franks, 6, Whitestone, NY – Best Video Costume & Best International Recipe – Koulourakia (Greek cookies) Isabella Friedli, 8, Lafayette, CA – Best Secret Ingredient – Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes Sydney McCoy, 11, Apex, NC – Future TV Star Award – Bird Lasagna Sam Medeiros, 9, Port Washington, NY – Best Family Meal Recipe – Alpine Goulash Roy Minnix, 4, Bronxville, NY – Most Adorable Presentation – Oatmeal Apple Cookies Stavroula Paralikas, 6, Bayside, NY - Best Smile Award – Chicken Fingers Anastasia Schreiner, 8, Glen Oaks, NY – Facebook Winner – Spaghetti and Meat Sauce Yianni Rigos, 9, Flushing, NY – Best Comfort Food Recipe – Rice Pudding Facebook vote winner Anastasia Schreiner will receive a deluxe prize including a set of pots, pans and utensils from Cat Cora’s signature collection as well as a set of Cat Cora’s books.  All finalists will be receiving award certificates as well as a copy of Loukoumi’s Celebrity Cookbook signed by Cat Cora and Nick Katsoris along with the signature Loukoumi saying “Believe in yourself and dreams come true!”

Loukoumi's Good Deeds Like in the book Loukoumi’s Good Deeds, please draw a picture for someone you love, showing something you like to do with that person. Click here to download Loukoumi's Good Deeds Storytime Craft
Growing Up with Loukoumi Draw a picture of you with Loukoumi in Your Dream Career and fill in the statement: I WANT TO BE A________ BECAUSE__________________ Click here to download Growing Up with Loukoumi Storytime Craft