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Scottish Baker of the Year
THE SEARCH FOR THE SCOTTISH BAKER OF THE YEAR 2022/23 LAUNCHED ON THE 3 FEBRUARY 2022
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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. 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.
SCOTTISH BAKER OF THE YEAR 2022/23 JUDGES PUT SCOTLAND’S BEST TO THE TASTE TEST
Scotland’s bakers were out in socially distanced force in Dunfermline on 16 March 2022 as they proudly delivered up to 10 of their star products to be taste tested by some 55 industry experts at the first Scottish Baker of the Year Judging Day since 2019.
With nearly 500 products from 57 bakers for the judges to assess, in a morning and an afternoon session, to ensure social distancing was maintained, it was a busy day for the judges who were looking at the appearance, the quality of the bake and the taste of each and every product. With awards on offer in 13 categories for the best scones, loaves, savoury items, morning rolls, individual cakes and biscuits as well as the latest categories including French and Sweet Yeast Raised pastries and Free-from bread, biscuits and cakes, the competition was very hot in the judge’s chamber. But the results will remain a secret until the Scottish Bakers Annual Conference & Awards on 6 and 7 May in Glasgow when the regional and national winners will be announced along with the ultimate title of Scottish Baker of the Year. Customers had until 6 April to vote in the Customer Choice Awards. The results of this vote will determine who will be crowned the Customer Choice winner across the four categories: Bakery Café, Craft Baker, Retail Craft Baker and Wholesale Baker. The winners will be announced at a glittering Gala dinner at the Hilton in Glasgow on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 May 2022 when the sector will come together to focus on Baking the Tomorrow taking a look at how bakers are adapting their businesses to explore new opportunities.
