Check out Circa's challenging Charleston Cookie Contest

Cookie aficionados, here's your chance. Downtown Charleston restaurant Circa 1886, in the historic carriage house behind Wentworth Mansion, is featuring a "Charleston Cookie Contest" in honor of Christmas in July.

The restaurant is asking, "If Charleston was a cookie, what would it be?"

Due to the overwhelming success of last year's "Charleston Choice Ice Cream Contest" (they received more than 300 submissions!), Circa 1886 has decided to challenge the public once again.

Why a cookie contest this year?

"Cookies are something all ages can relate to, so why not?" says pastry chef Scott Lovorn.

Linn Lesesne, director of public relations for Charming Inns and Circa 1886, hopes the contest will encourage both enthusiasm and pride among the public for the city.

"Lowcountry cuisine is such a defining aspect of Charleston," she says. "What better a way to capture the essence of the city through its food?"

The same judging system as last year's contest will be used for this year's. Here's an inside look at the process:

Cookie recipes and ideas can be submitted to the restaurant's Web site, circa1886.com, by July 31. Video submissions also are accepted but must be tagged as "CharlestonChristmasCookie" on YouTube.

Lovorn and executive chef Marc Collins will review all submissions and choose the Top 10.

From this list, the management will decide on the final four recipes.

Lovorn will then prepare the top four cookies for a panel of guest judges.

Last year, Post and Courier food writer Marion Sullivan served as one of the judges. This year's judges are undecided, but will most likely represent opinions from culinary experts and food enthusiasts.

The creators of the top four recipes and their families are also invited to the event.

The winning cookie chosen by the judges will be incorporated into one of the chef's desserts on the menu in December, just in time for the holidays.

The cookie will be featured on dessert trays at the restaurant's Progressive Dinner throughout December as well. The event includes a four-course gourmet meal, where guests travel by horse-drawn carriage to three of the Charming Inns' hotels in downtown Charleston (including the Wentworth Mansion). At each hotel, guests will enjoy a different course.

And finally, to celebrate the winner's newly gained fame, he or she will receive a complimentary dinner at Circa 1886 for four.

Last year's winning recipe, Seersucker ice cream, combined vanilla ice cream with blueberries and honey roasted peanuts. "This ice cream was truly unique," says Lovorn. "There was more to it than ingredients; there was a story behind it. Seersucker creates an image in our minds that defines the Lowcountry, whether it's a childhood memory, your favorite comfort food or just a lazy Sunday afternoon."

The secret behind the contest is to think outside the box. Lovorn remembers some of the most creative submissions from last year's contest: Honeysuckle ice cream and Sweet Potato Casserole ice cream.

The ideal cookie should be original and show local Charleston flavors.

Lovorn, Lesesne and the rest of Circa 1886 will be looking for the recipe that injects the most character and emotion into its cookie.

"Everybody loves cookies," says Lovorn. "It's the perfect medium to work with."

So put your culinary creativity to the test and think of everything and anything that reminds you of the South, whether its shrimp and grits or hot, humid summer days. There is no limit to the imagination here. Anything goes, as long as it's edible, of course.

Reach Elizabeth Laseter at 958-7368 or elaseter@postandcourier.com