COMPANY EARNS TOP NATIONAL DESSERT HONORS

A gourmet dessert made in Cape Girardeau has received top honors in a national dessert competition.

The New Orleans Praline manufactured by My Daddy's Cheesecake Inc. was selected from entries as a first-place winner in the dessert category of the annual contest sponsored by Gorman Co., publisher of several trade journals in the food-service industry.

"Light, no-fat and no-cholesterol entries have dominated the awards during the past two years at Gorman's annual contests with one notable exception," said Patricia Gorman. "That exception is My Daddy's Cheesecake, which has won the dessert category two years in a row.

"Many bakers have been striving to capture a share of the rapidly expanding fat-free market," said Gorman. "But three of the top four finalists in the dessert category this year were cheesecakes. The judges thought the New Orleans Praline was one of the richest cheesecakes they tasted."

The three-inch tall, five-pound cake serves 16, and was described by judges as "worth every calorie."

A year ago in the same contest, Turtle Cheesecake, also manufactured by My Daddy's Cheesecake, was the big winner.

New Orleans Praline and Turtle Cheesecake are both available from the local operation here, owned and operated by Tom and Jane Harte and Joe and Lauchette Low.

Joe Low III, of Tampa, Fla., accepted the Medallion of Honor and the National Award Plaque for the company during the awards presentation at Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Tom Harte, president of the local bakery and "head chef," promises a new offering for next year's competition in a try for three blue ribbons in a row.