Upside Down Apple Praline Biscuit Takes $20,000 Top Prize in The Biskies™ Contest
Veneé Pawlowski of Black Magnolia Southern Patisserie in Greensboro, N.C. wins grand prize in new contest from General Mills Foodservice.
MINNEAPOLIS (May 17, 2023)—While Veneé Pawlowski is a local legend in Greensboro, N.C. for her scrumptious cinnamon rolls, her Black Magnolia Southern Patisserie might have a new bestseller to add to the bakery’s menu. Thanks to her standout Upside Down Apple Praline Biscuit recipe, Pawlowski was named the $20,000 Grand Prize winner in The Biskies™ Contest from General Mills Foodservice.
The Biskies offered chefs, owners and employees of commercial restaurants the chance to win up to $20,000 for their unique biscuit creation in the categories of entrée, side or dessert using Pillsbury’s™ new Southern Style Unbaked Biscuits and two or more additional ingredients. In addition to the $20,000 Grand Prize, the contest awarded three Runner-Up Winners (one for each category) a $5,000 prize.
Pawlowski’s winning entry included a fluffy buttermilk biscuit layered with brown sugar roasted apples, served with bourbon buttermilk sweet biscuit ice cream and topped with bourbon caramel, pecan pralines and salted toffee. The Upside Down Apple Praline Biscuit is “an innovative twist on a simple classic,” according to judges, who noted that “the biscuit shines as the star of the dish, blending perfectly with unexpected flavors to create a culinary masterpiece. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, the addition of biscuit ice cream takes this dessert to a whole new level of deliciousness!”
No stranger to award-winning recipes, Pawlowski was also recognized as a winner for her mouthwatering Bourbon Banoffee Pecan Rolls in General Mills’ Neighborhood to Nation Recipe Contest in 2020. The former contest celebrated independent family and neighborhood restaurants and the one-of-a-kind dishes reflecting their local flavor.
The Biskies Contest runners-up, who each received $5,000, are:
“Our judges were blown away by the creative and delicious biscuit recipes shared by talented contestants across the country,” said Shayna Becker, marketing manager for the Restaurant Channel at General Mills Foodservice. “The Biskies Contest was designed to celebrate biscuits in all of their flavors and forms, and it was a tremendous success in letting us know just how much people love their biscuits!”
General Mills Foodservice, which partners with restaurants to provide back-of-house products, recipe inspiration and culinary support, created the contest in conjunction with the introduction of Pillsbury’s newly improved biscuits, Pillsbury Southern Style Unbaked Biscuits, which give restaurants a low-labor way to bake up light and fluffy biscuits with superior taste and consistent quality. The Biskies asked participants to upload a photo of their original biscuit recipe to enter, allowing restaurants to showcase how biscuits shine on their menus.
The entries for The Biskies Contest were reviewed by General Mills Foodservice’s team of culinary professionals, Chefs of the Mills, who selected three Category Finalists for each recipe category. The finalists were featured on General Mill Foodservice’s website and social media channels in April for a public vote to determine the final Grand Prize and Runner-Up Winners.
About General Mills Foodservice
General Mills Foodservice serves the foodservice and bakery industries by providing quality products from time-trusted brands along with culinary, nutrition education and marketing resources to help operators succeed. Its distinguished brand portfolio includes Big G Cereals, Yoplait, Nature Valley, Gold Medal, Pillsbury, Chex Mix, Bugles, Gardetto’s and Annie’s. For more information, please visit www.generalmillsfoodservice.com.
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Media Contact: Sarah Peterson 763.764.6354 Media.Line@genmills.com