Vonnie Jasso, owner of ‘Just Like Mom’s’ in Southampton had never entered a contest before but, after encouragement from friends and family, decided to enter her butter tarts at the Ontario Butter Tart Festival in Midland on June 9th.
There were 80 contestants competing for the title of Ontario’s Best Butter Tart with 12 judges deciding on the outcome.
The judges were divided into groups of three and each judge tasted 20 butter tarts in the first round, each selecting four to continue so that 16 tarts then went on to round two. The judges then chose eight to be tasted by all 12 judges and, finally, the best three were chosen.
Jasso said she was very surprised to learn that, on her very first entry into a contest, she had come in 3rd and, then, to top it off her butter pecan tarts came in 5th.
Jasso comes from a family of entrepreneurs, all independent business owners. “I worked for a time with the Blue Water School Board where I managed the cafeteria at Westhill school in Owen Sound,” said Jasso, “but when the opportunity came up to start my own restaurant here in Southampton, I thought, why not?”
On June 26th, ‘Just Like Mom’s’ will celebrate its 5th anniversary and, most days, it’s hard to find a seat in the restaurant where the cooking and decor lives up to its name. On the Wall of Honour, are photos of many moms, grandmothers and aunts and the number keeps growing.
Jasso also supports women’s and children’s charities, such as the Women’s House and the Pregnancy Centre in Owen Sound. She also supports the ‘Little by Little‘ orphanage in Haiti. “I was a single mom and raised five children and so I made it my focus to support women and children where I could. We’ll hold a fundraiser in September to officially celebrate our anniversary.”
Just like Mom’s is located at 150 North Ranking St., Southampton (north of the bridge).
