An East Haven tradition is back after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic: The East Haven Rotary Club Anginette Wars returns to East Haven High School on Friday, April 29, promising attendees a chance to taste and vote on more than 30 local bakers’ efforts at this traditional Italian cookie.

And yes, 2020 tickets will be honored for this year’s happy return.

The event, emceed by WTNH Meteorologist Gil Simmons, will also have raffles and a variety if Italian foods in addition to the Anginetti. As always, proceeds from this once again annual event will benefit Rotary’s efforts on behalf of kids in need, including the Ben Mazzucco Clothe the Children program and Rotary’s sponsorship of child attending Camp Rising Sun.

Anginette cookies, sometimes called Italian lemon drops, knot cookies, or rosettes, are a Southern Italian specialty that past Anginetter Wars events have shown can vary widely, though all feature strong lemon and anise flavorings.

The idea for the event started decades ago in the former St. Vincent de Paul School. After that school closed, the contest was adopted by the East Haven Rotary Club in 2017 and ran with growing enthusiasm through 2019; the 2020 and 2021 versions were canceled by the pandemic.

In addition to honoring spectator tickets from 2020, the Rotary Club was able to re-connect with most of the bakers who signed up for the 2020 event, so competition will be fiece.

Anginette Wars 2022 runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at East Haven High School, 35 Wheelbarrow Lane. For tickets ($20), visit https://bit.ly/Anginettes2022 or easthavenrotary.org.

The East Haven Rotary Club is now in its 83rd year as it was founded in 1939. Since that time, Rotarians from East Haven have been involved in thousands of projects helping the residents of not just East Haven but also around the world. The club meets on Thursdays at 6 p.m. at Twin Pines Diner, 34 Main Street. New members are welcome. For more information, visit easthavenrotary.org.