People come every year to the Central New York TomatoFest so that they can get a taste of that red, ripe delight. But this year, visitors will be able to try it with a mix of local flavor.

During the festival, people will be able to try the top of eight plates from a tomato recipe cookoff. This year's winner is a roasted tomato soup by Nadine VandeWalker of Cicero.

VandeWalker said she came up with the idea for the recipe after tasting a similar soup at a restaurant.

“I thought I could try to make a better version myself,” she said.

Along with samples of the winning meal, people will be able to take with them all of the eight finalist recipes to make on their own.

“We think when something is called TomatoFest, people should be able to show others how they can use tomatoes,” said Chris Gutelius, a TomatoFest board member and organizer of the contest.

The cookoff, which took place Monday, was held as a way to promote the annual TomatoFest and local amateur chefs at the same time, Gutelius said. The 10 recipes were chosen out of approximately 15 entries, and the chefs prepared them for judges and Cornell Cooperative members at the extension kitchen in Auburn.

Tomatoes were used during the cookoff for sauces, salads, pies and toppings. Though there were not any this year, Gutelius said past contests have included tomato cake.

“The tomato is so versatile,” she said. “There are a lot of things that combine well with it, but it brings that very distinctive, tangy but sweet taste to whatever you put it in.”

Gino Raymond prepared his own creation called peperone pentola, which means peppers in a pot. Raymond said he only uses homegrown tomatoes when he cooks, and he is frequently coming up with new ideas for dishes.

The stew-like meal has made the best impression so far, he said.

“I wanted to put something together that was like, blam!” Raymond said.

Deborah Oliver prepared a tomato and Romano cheese pie from a recipe she said was handed down to her. Whenever she attends a potluck, people demand she makes the pie, which also includes fresh garlic.

“I won't even make it if it's not summer, though,” said Oliver, whose dish took second place.

Each chef received a prize, with the winner being awarded a $200 gift card to the New York Wine and Culinary Center in Canandaigua.

First organized 23 years ago, TomatoFest brings people together in Owasco to raise money and collect food for the area's needy. The event provides two days worth of live entertainment, arts and crafts and, of course, lots of food for attendees.

This year's TomatoFest kicks off Sept. 6.

Gutelius said the board tried to chose meals that fit in all types of categories so that the tasters on hand could choose from a nice variety.

But that also made the selection process a lot more challenging, she said. It's one thing to pick your favorite of two pasta sauces. It is harder to pick your favorite dish if one is a pasta sauce and another is bruschetta, she said.

“We were hoping there was one, clear dish,” Gutelius said. “But I had a funny feeling they all were going to be pretty darn good. To pick the winning one is a challenge.”

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.

If you go

What: Central New York TomatoFest

When: Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 6 and 7

Where: Emerson Park Pavilion on the north shore of Owasco Lake on Route 38 in Auburn

To learn more: Visit cnytomatofest.org