Last Sunday, the New England Regional Art Museum put the art of home-baking on exhibit with their inaugural Great NERAM Bake Off.
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The competition, inspired by the Great British Bake Off television series, invited the local community to flex their baking skills as contestants brought their best creations on the day and major prizes were awarded to each category.
The regional gallery received an overwhelming response to the competition with ninety registrations across five baking categories including best tasting cake, best artistic cake, best tasting biscuit, and a category for ages under 16 and under 8.
There were winners in each category and an afternoon tea where all the entries were served up and enjoyed by the wider community.
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The competition was judged by member of the Guyra Evening Country Women's Association Mary Hollingworth, and NERAM Curator Belinda Hungerford who tasted entries before deciding a winner for each category.
Mary Hollingworth who has had her fair share of judging as CWA judge, member of the New South Wales land cookery committee, and member of the Sydney Royal Easter Show Fine Arts Auxiliary committee, was delighted by the level of skill at the event.
"The competition was a magnificent feat for NERAM," Mrs hollingsworth said.
"The community responded amazingly to the competition with the number of entries rivalling the Sydney Show, and the quality of baking just as good."
The judges had their work cut out for them as they tasted an assortment of cakes, biscuits, and slices.
The junior bakers were judged first with Bonnie Blanch winning the under 8 category, and Charlotte Ford winning the under 16 category. Both received a $50 gift voucher from Gallery 126, a creative kid's book, and baking kit.
Marie Hoad stole the show in the best tasting biscuit category with her gluten free orange and pistachio shortbread which won her a $50 voucher from Coles and a $50 voucher from Petal Network.
The category with the largest number of entries was best tasting cake which was won by Laura Clare, with her frangipane tart, who received a $100 gift voucher to the Goldfish Bowl, and runner up Bridget Van Der Eyk received a hamper from Gathere Goods Australia.
Janna Haynes rose to the top after she won first place for most artistic cake which ultimately won her Best in Show and received a Sunbeam Mixmaster and hand mixer from Bing Lee Armidale.
"It was a difficult task to choose the winners, there were so many fantastic entries and a huge variety of flavours, textures and designs," said Belinda Hungerford NERAM Curator and co-judge of the Bake Off.
"But certain cakes and biscuits just stood out as being truly special and unique and in the end, we had to trust our taste buds. Being a judge was a tough but delicious role to play."
NERAM received a positive response from community members who were invited to spectate the judging and join the afternoon tea where each entry was served up and enjoyed.
"I am thrilled to say that the Great NERAM Bake Off was a resounding success, with fantastic participation from the community, outstanding baking and an exciting atmosphere," said NERAM Director Rachael Parsons.
"Congratulations to all the winners and participants on their baking and cake decorating prowess, you made our amazing judges work very hard to select the winners.
"Thanks to all our sponsors and helpers on the day. We have already heard that the community wants another bake off next year... planning has started."
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