In February, General Mills Foodservice launched The Biskies Contest, which gives 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.

From February 1 to March 31, 2023, the contest accepted submissions for original recipes that use Pillsbury’s new Southern Style Unbaked Biscuits and two or more additional ingredients. Participants were simply required to upload a photo of their original biscuit recipe to enter, showcasing how biscuits shine on their menus. The contest awarded one Grand Prize Winner $20,000, and three Runner-Up Winners each $5,000.  

Thanks to her standout Upside Down Apple Praline Biscuit recipe, Veneé Pawlowski of Black Magnolia Southern Patisserie in Greensboro, North Carolina was named the $20,000 Grand Prize winner. 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!”

Pawlowski was also recognized as a winner of the General Mills’ Neighborhood to Nation Recipe Contest in 2020 for her Bourbon Banoffee Pecan Rolls. 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:

• Best Side: Patrick Lahey of Stella’s Restaurant and Bar in Perrysburg, Ohio, for his Roasted Vegetable Nest with a Smoky Bacon Gochujang Sauce.
• Best Entrée: Cindy Sanderson of Biscuit Bombers in Phoenix, Arizona, for her Tongue Slapper, featuring a Southern-breaded chicken breast, bacon, Swiss cheese, a pan-fried egg and spicy Bomber sauce.
• Best Dessert: Aaron Gray of the Garden Café in Sioux Center, Iowa, for his Chocolate Berry Biscuit Bomb.

“Our judges were blown away by the creative and delicious biscuit recipes shared by talented contestants across the country,” says 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!”