A plate of six cupcakes, all decorated with specified ingredients and predetermined conditions, were displayed as a testament to a world record possibly broken. De Jeune Kinchen, the maker in question, came from Little Rock to participate in this year's Front Street Food Fest. But she wasn't just here to sell sweets. She was a woman on a mission.
"I did it, I broke the record," she said, referring to the previously established record of decorating six cupcakes in 47 seconds.
"As per criteria Guinness sent us in advance, we knew what we needed, got the ingredients, the time keeper (a local track coach). And then it was go-time. We've got photos and video which will next be submitted to the the Guinness Book of World Records to make it official.
Each cupcake sat on a separate plate, needed icing precisely, a layer of sprinkles and a cherry on top. She managed to break the record with time to spare, doing it in 39.1.
Kinchen, who has been baking for ten years and running her business out of Little Rock about a year and a half, makes it back to Texarkana, her home town, as often as she can.
"It was good, I had lots of supporters cheering me on," she said. "I was nervous, but confident. I decorate cupcakes every day and know my way around."
Kinchen's Jam Confection Co. was one of many merchants offering treats for the tongue that hot June Saturday. Local favorite Scott Martin of Scottie's Grill was serving up delights that his restaurant out on Highway 67 is known for. From well-spiced alligator meat to many other treats, he saw the festival as an opportunity to pull Texarkana downtown.
"I'm a big supporter of downtown and I want to see downtown Texarkana thrive," he said. "Not only can customers come down to the Fest and enjoy lots of good, varied food in short order, but they can check out other downtown businesses. And I want them to come check out our place (Scottie's Grill), too."
"These events get our faces in front of other folks," he said. "Those folks, in turn, may come down and try us afterwards as well as other businesses downtown."
Pies also were available at the Food Fest and Danielle Smith of Danie's Delights took the opportunity to come from Houston to her home town of Texarkana to offer her wares to the fest-goers. But she also had personal reasons.
"My grandmother, Eula Finnie, had her 86th birthday, so I came down to celebrate. She's still moving around and making jokes, so it was great to see her."
Danielle is a former schoolteacher and now a full time baker, she is still grateful for the reception she gets when she comes home.
"I love Texarkana. Texarkana supports me," she said.