Now, onto the big dough

Westlake baker rises to the occasion with a batch of the best Bojangles' biscuits.

Laker Weekly - Laurie Edwards
laurie@smithmountainlake.com

Lynnae Elkins founght back tears last week as she watched a 10-minute timer count down. The 20-year-old Moneta resident had just placed three racks of biscuits in the oven at the Bojangles' in Rocky Mount during the franchise owners' Master Biscuit Maker Challenge and Elkins was sure she'd lost.

"I've done better," said Elkins, who works at the Westlake Bojangles', her voice shaking as she eyed the baking biscuits.

She was two short of a full batch of 45, something she would lose points for as the judges rated her biscuit making from the moment she began washing her hands to when she placed the finished prodcut under the heat lamps.

Elkins picked her best pan out three and sat, staring forlornly at nothing in particular, while two judges rated each of the 15 biscuits based on height, diameter, color and taste.

About 15 minutes later, however, Elkins cried out with joy when it was announced she'd won the regional competition, beating out three other contestants from Radford and North Carolina.

"I'm speechless," said Elkins. "I guess I can't underestimate myself."

Buddy Carlton, Bojangles' franchise area director and one of the day's judges, said he was impressed with Elkins' work, as well as that of the other competitors whose final scores were within a few points of each other.

"I've been in Bojangles' for 20 years and I've had a lot of biscuits," he said. "[Elkins] were good."

David Arrington, president of Arrington Enterprises, franchise owner of the Westlake and Rocky Mount Bojangles', said he was proud of Elkins, who will go on next month to compete in the national competition in Charlotte, N.C.

Bob Burgoyne, Bojangles' field training manager, said Elkins and her fellow biscuit-makers will get the red carpet treatment with all expenses paid from a room at a luxury hotel to dinner at a five-star restaurant.

"I've never done anything like this before," said Elkins, a Bedford County native and Staunton River High School graduate. "I think it could be a really cool adventure."

She'll be vying for the top prize of $1,000, which Elkins said she could use to get her own apartment, upgrade her car or get ahead on some bills. For winning the regional competition last week, Elkins took home $100 and braggin rights.

Arrington said Bojangles' hosts the annual competition because it takes biscuit-making very seriously. The biscuits are made from scratch and employees have to mix the batter just enough and roll the dough out to just the right height to create a consistent product. But it's not just about following recipe, said Arrington; you have to get a feel for it.

"If I had to do it today, my first batch would be terrible," he said. "My second batch would be a little better and my third batch would be a little better than my second."

Arrington said Elkins is a natural, having taken to biscuit-making quickly when she started working at the Westlake Bojangles' and 16 months ago. He said Elkins can roll out a batch in under five minutes, a feat employees strive for and a must-have shill for the national competition.

Elkins said she'll be practicing her technique in the weeks leading to the Nov. 10 showdown. While she admitted to being nervous, Elkins said she hopes to be more confident when she enters the national competition kitchen.