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NH Primary Cookie Contest Judges

About our judges:
Polly Bannister
Polly is Yankee Magazine's senior editor, home & garden, and has worked for Yankee nearly 20 years. Polly brings a lifelong appreciation of antiques, fine art, crafts, and cooking to her editorial travels. Polly has edited two cookbooks, Blue Ribbon Recipes: Award-Winning Recipes from America's Country Fairs and Best Home Baking.

Annie B. Copps
Annie is Yankee Magazine's senior editor for food. Prior to joining Yankee, she served as food editor of Boston Magazine and features editor of Concierge. Annie honed her skills as a cook at several notable Boston-area restaurants, including Olives, Jasper's, The Harvest, and Michela's.

Lou D'Allesandro
Democratic Senator Lou D'Allesandro is the Vice President for Finance in the New Hampshire Senate. D'Allesandro lives in Manchester with his wife, Patricia. They have three children and eight grandchildren.

Amy Diaz
Amy Diaz is editor of Hippo, New Hampshire's largest weekly newspaper, as well as the paper's film critic. A veteran of daily newspapers, Amy most recently worked in southern California. She lives in Manchester, N.H.

Theodore "Ted" L. Gatsas
Republican Senator Theodore "Ted" L. Gatsas serves as the Republican Leader of the New Hampshire Senate. Gatsas is a lifelong resident of Manchester.

Stephen James
Chef James is the managing partner and executive pastry chef at Popovers on the Square in Portsmouth, N.H. He held the position of the Executive Pastry Chef at The Balsams Grand Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., for 21 years and has received numerous awards and gold medals for his pastries and pastry displays. In May 2006, Steve signed on as Managing Partner of Popovers on the Square in historic downtown Portsmouth.

John Knorr
Knorr is the executive director of the culinary arts program at Southern New Hampshire University. He also oversees the BASHA programs, two degree completion options that serve international and domestic students. He teaches a course in Casino and Gaming Operations for the university's hospitality programs and has taught supervision and dining room service in the culinary program.

Nazzy
Nazzy is the morning on-air personality for 105.5 WJYY, Concord's only hit music station. Nazzy's favorite food is cookies making him a self-proclaimed “Cookie Monster.”

Tami Plyler
Plyler is a deputy managing editor for The New Hampshire Union Leader, overseeing features.