The Great Gloucestershire Bake Off was held on 23rd November 2014 at Harts Barn cookery school in Longhope. It was a rainy morning but the view from the kitchen work tops, of vividly green tumbling hills dotted with the Royal Forest of Deans famous sheep, set a tranquil scene for the action packed bake off. The 10 bakers arrived one by one for the 10am start, and after a few surreptitious glances around them at their opponents ingredients, the Bake Off was started with a brief introduction from Alice Huggins, Bake Off organiser and member of Gloucesters Clandestine cake club. Alice reminded the bakers of the challenges that they were to complete by 4pm. Firstly a technical challenge to bake the most creative ginger bread biscuits with the ingredients provided to them, but without a method. Next was the main challenge, to create a Winter themed show stopper of their choice that would wow the judges on both appearance and flavour. The bakers were reminded that the day was theirs to enjoy as a reward for supporting Young Gloucestershire and were all wished good luck before hearing the traditional opener: on your marks, get set, bake!! And with that, following a brief rustle of baking utensils, the room fell silent with the bakers all deep in concentration. In total the bakers had five hours, if you take out their 1 hour lunch break allocated which most of them didnt take. What was presented by all 10 bakers at 4pm was truly amazing, 10 cakes and 10 sets of ginger bread that were filled with unique ideas and huge amounts of skill and creativity. Despite the challenges the day set them there was only one cake stand broken and one oven was set to full rather than minimum. Everyone happily shared their utensils and baking tips. Ian, the only male baker on the day, happily wore his GGBO apron over his gloscat kitchen whites, inspite of its bright pink colour. Ians Disney Olaf Carrot cake was a carefully considered design, combing a winter veg with a current love of the film frozen. Lesley created a spectacular beetroot cake surrounded with handmade chocolate meringue logs and topped with frosted red fruits, despite only having one whole day to prepare as she took the place of another baker at the last minute. Maarya, who had not baked for two years, was so keen to be in the GGBO she bought 10 tickets to enter and created an iceberg shaped cake dotted with snowmen. Blossom had time for a cup of tea and a sit down by 3pm having already finished a sophisticated looking Carob, Ginger and Apple cake. At 4pm David Kelman, Head Chef of Ellenborough Park Hotel, joined Ione Sime, Mentoring Lead at Young Gloucestershire, the charity the Bake Off was in aid of, to judge the bakes alongside Yvette Farrel who kindly hosted the bake off at the wonderful Harts Barn Cookery School. All three judges took their duty very seriously and considered every element that makes a great bake. Matlena whos tip for successful baking is to follow a recipe really impressed the judges firstly with the texture, taste and even decoration of her gingerbread and also the flavour combination of her raspberry and chocolate show stopper. Matlena won 3rd place. Sian recovered from nearly burning her cake to present the judges with a giant cupcake topped with homemaker fir trees so intricately constructed the slotted together. Jackys Tripple chocolate Starry delight cake that she iced with a spatula engraved with her name at college over 20 years ago wowed the judges taste buds so much she secured second place. Katies gingerbread that were shaped as houses and sat neatly over the edge of a cup really impressed on originality and execution. The last cake to be completed due to the intricate abstract pattern chocolate collar was Melissas raspberry and pomegranate bake well cake and although it was a stunning design it didnt win her first place. That honour went to Emily whos show stopper had not one not two but three flavours of sponge. A Hot chocolate bottom tier supported a fantastically flavoured Earl Grey second tier and on top of that a ginger and stout snow lodge shaped top tier. The judges were blown away by the effort, originality and skill the went into it, they all went back for a second taste. The day ended with the top three winners presented their prizes. Matlena in third place was given a Nordic Bundt tin donated by the Kitcher Shop, second place received a Tala Cake Turner and first place a £25 gift voucher for Pryers Kake supplies in Cheltenham alongside the coveted Great Gloucestershire Bake Off Trophy designed and donated by Ruardean Garden Pottery. After the prize giving the bakers family and friends all joined the bakers and judges in eating the day bakes. A cheque for £308 was given to Young Gloucestershire to support their mentoring project which supports our counties youth in realising their dreams. Till next year, happy baking.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 22:45:27 +0000