Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Too Many Cooks

Melon carver and the infinite sweetness

The watermelon carver’s primary tool is a straight-edge, one-sided Thai blade.

He bought it online at Amazon for $40 or $50 and likes it best because “it’s super flexible.”

While he uses it most, it’s only one of the tools of his trade. He carries it in a black-and-yellow, 16-inch Stanley toolbox – along with all kinds of knives and punches, toothpicks and skewers, wire cutters, tweezers and dry-erase markers.

There’s a cheese plane in there, too.

This is the third year in a row Ryan Allison of Spokane has entered the National Watermelon Promotion Board’s Annual Watermelon Carving Contest, held during National Watermelon Month, otherwise known as July.

He’s also hoping it becomes the third year in a row that he wins.

Entries are accepted until Aug. 3.

Meantime, look for a story in Wednesday’s Spokesman-Review Food section, and enjoy this slide show which details Allison carving a watermelon into a floral design on a recent afternoon at Spokane's Comstock Park.



Cooking inspirations, favorite recipes, restaurant finds and other musings from the local food world and beyond.