A Hampton man who had placed as a finalist at the Isle of Wight County Fair won first place in the Best Angel Food Cake Dessert category at the State Fair of Virginia for his Aloha Roll creation.

Vince Dobyns winning entry earned him $400 and a year’s supply of Eggland’s Best eggs.

All contestants were first-, second- or third-place winners at one of the 28 local county fairs that held competitions. The contest was sponsored by the Virginia Egg Council.

Four judges from the Fort Lee Culinary Team took more than two hours to taste, touch and study the desserts entries, all developed and baked by home cooks across the commonwealth.

Recipes had to crack a minimum of 10 eggs, the ingredient that offers exceptional leavening, causing angel food cakes to rise so high. The basic recipe for angel food cake batter had to be used, and then the sky was the limit for developing a dessert.

Entries came in the shapes of basic cakes, tortes, trifles, rolls, layered loaves and so on.

Flavors in this competition included key lime, pistachio, orange, lemon, maple, Mojito, pomegranate, chocolate and more.

The second-place winner was Deanna Persinger of Raphine, who entered her Berry-Citrus Punch Bowl Cake, winning $250 and a six-month supply of eggs.

Matthew Kelly of Crewe won third place for his Matthew’s Key Lime Angel Food Cake. His entry was worth $100 and a six-month supply of eggs.