St. Charles Convention Center

Julia M. Usher’s YouTube Channel Takes 3-D Cookie Recipes to the Next Level | Eater

"A large convention venue that hosted a mid‑July cookie art competition filmed by the Food Network, where dozens of life‑like, three‑dimensional cookie sculptures were displayed along narrow tables near the entrance while producers and camera crews worked to capture ideal shots. The hall doubled as an exhibition space with vendor booths selling decorating supplies (stencils, edible acrylic paint, etc.), and the competition featured separate 2‑D and 3‑D divisions, cash and product prizes totaling over $10,000, and judging by a panel that provided detailed feedback afterwards. Entries ranged from an eight‑week, several‑hundred‑hour “Antiquities of Mexico” project with a sculpted toucan beak to playful fried‑chicken cookies and molded gingerbread characters, and attendees often marveled at how convincingly realistic some pieces looked. Organizers emphasized community and education—judges followed up with contestants to close the feedback loop—and the event highlighted both the technical difficulty and theatrical spectacle of contemporary sugar art." - Hal Sundt