Local baker Lydia Evans has proven the most delectable baked-goods can be found on the mid-north coast of Queensland.
Declared the 2014 winner of the annual Muffin Break Ultimate Bake-Off competition, Lydia out-baked competitors from across Australia and New Zealand to make it to the competition Grand Final event, held 18 September in Sydney.
The win is particularly sweet for 28-year-old Lydia, who narrowly missed out on taking the top-spot title last year. Lydia said she dedicated a great deal of time and effort in preparing for this year’s competition and is ‘simply ecstatic’ with her victory.
“It just goes to show that hard work really does pay off. I take my hat off to the other Grand Finalists who each made this a close competition.
“Coming so close to taking the title last year made me all the more determined this year. I truly love my job and I think my passion for baking gave me the edge I needed. I am so happy I can call myself the ultimate baker” said Lydia.
With almost ten years of experience as a professional baker, Lydia’s attitude and competent skill-set thoroughly impressed the competition judging panel which included Better Homes and Gardens Magazine Food Director Dixie Elliot.
Each of the six Grand Finalists had their baking knowledge, general trade skills, originality and their compliance to Muffin Break’s standards of food-safety and product quality assessed.
The finalists had to produce a sweet or savoury signature baked product, as well as prepare and bake a batch of traditional muffins in less than an hour. The finalists were also tested in a Who Am I? competition using only their sense of taste to identify the ingredients of a mystery dish.
Their creative skills were then put to the test in a cake decorating challenge where finalists had to turn a simple vanilla sponge cake into a sponge-spectacular.
As well as the glory of holding the ‘Ultimate Baker’ title, Lydia has won a Kitchenaid Mixmaster valued at more than $500 and a $1,000 Visa Gift Card.
Source: Muffin Break media release.