Local honey takes center stage in annual contest

Published 9:48 am Wednesday, January 1, 2020

: Shown, from left, are Joey Russo, Tom Taylor, Stacy Marriner, Lenie Taylor, Etienne Nadeau, Gunther Heyder and Ed Lawler. Courtesy Dalton Hyde

The Outer Banks BeeKeepers’ Guild has announced the winners of their Fourth Annual Honey Contest. With samplings of 21 unique Outer Banks honeys from guild members’ hives, the judges and attendees again had their work cut out for them.

Guest judges were Stacy Marriner, coastal region director of the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association; Etienne Nadeau, Born and Bred queen-rearing program director of the NCSBA; and Joey Russo, owner and chef of Russo’s Bistro and Bar. Chef Russo also created the main course for the evening’s potluck dinner.

Among the contest attendees, future beekeepers Elizabeth Quinn, Theo Kiousis and Eleni Kiousis sampled the 21 different varieties and cast their votes for People’s Choice Award. Courtesy Denise Deacon

The individual honeys’ qualities such as density, clarity and flavor were compared, votes were tallied and the winners were:

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Judge’s Choice – Light: Lenie and Tom Taylor of Wanchese.

Judge’s Choice – Amber: Gunther Heyder of Southern Shores.

People’s Choice: Ed Lawler of Southern Shores.

Special Mentions:

Judge’s Second and Third Place – Light: Chris and Chandra Rutledge of Waves and Melissa Warner of Manteo tied with Virgil Lanning of Southern Shores.

Judge’s Second and Third Place – Amber: Lenie and Tom Taylor of Wanchese and Pat and Dan Hardy of Southern Shores.

The Outer Banks BeeKeepers’ Guild welcomes anyone who would like to know more about honey bees and beekeeping – or where to purchase local honey – to visit outerbanksbeekeepers.com for more information, or contact OBBG president Dalton Hyde at 919-260-3265.

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