THE SCOTTISH BAKER
SCOTTISH BAKER OF THE YEAR 2022/23 LAUNCH
THE SEARCH FOR THE SCOTTISH BAKER OF THE YEAR 2022/23 LAUNCHED ON THE 3 FEBRUARY 2022 Five City of Glasgow final year bakery students went head-to-head at Trades Hall in Glasgow to bring us “Scotland on a Cake” with the winning student, or students, as judged by Scottish veteran baker Robert Ross and Little Venice Cake Company Founder Mich Turner MBE, taking home a prestigious work experience day at multiple award winner Mimi’s Bakehouse with all the entrants receiving a day at lead sponsor BAKO’s development bakery in Preston. A sumptuous Highland Cow created by Maryam Mehdizadehkasri and a super Saltire decorated by Diane Cleland took the top spots! To mark the start of the competition, five City of Glasgow final year bakery students went head-to-head to bring us “Scotland on a cake” in just 45 minutes. Robert Ross and Mich Turner MBE were on hand to ensure fair play and to assess the contestants’ efforts, determining if they look good enough to eat.
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And they were! The entrants offered up: - A sumptuous Highland Cow created by Maryam Mehdizadehkasri - A super Saltire decorated by Diane Cleland - A freedom Cake technically delivered by Brian Behan - An IrnBru bonanza iced by Rebecca Balmforth - A piped saltire piped by Kellyanne McClymont The students were able to call upon advice on the day from the current Scottish Baker of the Year, Jane and Sara McIntosh, from Harry Gow Bakery based in Inverness. Paul Little, Principal and Chief Executive at City of Glasgow College, said, “Our College has a well-deserved reputation for excellence in culinary arts and bakery, and I am delighted that our NQ level 6 bakery students are showcasing their skills for the launch of Scottish Baker of the Year. Our own City
Market, run by our bakery students and staff, have previously won a number of product prizes at regional and national level so we are very aware of the impact and value which this prestigious competition generates.” The event marked the opening of customer voting for the “Customer Choice” awards. Shoppers simply vote for their favourite baker and from these we will identify a “Customer Choice” winner in each of the four business categories; Craft Baker, Retail Craft Baker, Wholesale Baker and Bakery Café. The competition now invites bakers to submit products of their own choosing across the familiar categories: Biscuit, Bread including traditional and sourdough, Individual Cake, Morning Roll including Buttery, Savoury, Scone including Potato Scone, Celebration Cake, Viennoiserie, including French and Danish style pastries and Free-from Bread, and Biscuits and Cakes.
