On Wednesday 27 September 2023, the National Baking Industry Association and CDU TAFE joined forces to host and judge the 2023 Northern Territory Baking Show. The competition was open to apprentice and qualified bakers located in the Northern Territory area with entries being received from bakeries throughout Darwin and surrounds.
The categories in the 2023 Northern Territory Baking Show included Show Bread, Speciality Bread, Cakes, Sweet Pastries, Fancy Pastries, Savoury Pastries, and three Apprentice Categories. We were excited to receive a broad selection of innovative and creative exhibits.
The panel of judges for the 2023 Northern Territory Baking Show comprised David Barker, Bill Denniss, and Phillip Lodge from CDU Tafe, Dean Musgrave General Manager of the NBIA, and chef Yakob Abraham who assisted with the cake and pastry section.
“Judging the 2023 Northern Territory Baking Show has been an awesome experience. Particularly Jasmine’s tart in the Cake and Pastry (Sweet Pastry) category and the standard of sourdough was excellent. I enjoyed meeting new faces at the BBQ and awards presentation and it was also great to get out and visit some of the NBIA members and other bakeries in the Darwin area“, said Dean Musgrave.
Once again the show bread and specialty bread categories were the most keenly fought over. The results were very close again this year with a new arrival on the scene in Old Mate’s Bakery taking out the Most Successful Bread Exhibitor award. Old Mate’s Bakery won many of the bread categories and their apprentice Jake also took out the Most Successful Apprentice category.
David Barker said, “The 2023 Northern Territory Baking Show was well supported this year with entries across all 27 categories. The products on display were of a very high standard and really showcased the exceptional and talented Bakers we have here in the NT”.
Old Mate’s Bakery is only new to Darwin, but the owner/bakers are well known to the NT Baking industry, having worked all over the NT for many years. It was really fantastic to see them having success in their first NT Baking show and we know they have their eye on the Champion Baker of the Show next year.
Congratulations go out to all who entered but particularly to the Champion of the Show winner Humpty Doo Bakery, who received a bundle of goodies including an NBIA membership, a Baking Business Magazine subscription, three cookbooks, and the perpetual shield. They also won the Savoury Pastry section with their outstanding pies and sausage rolls and placed very highly across all of the individual classes. The win is a credit to the whole team and the high standard consistently produced in the bakery.
Each class first place received a trophy, while second, and third place received certificates. The Most Successful Exhibitor for each of the six categories also received a prize from our sponsors, the results are as follows.
2023 Northern Territory Baking Show Results
Old Mates Bakery won the Most Successful Bread Exhibitor and $500 worth of flour from Manildra Group.
Summit Bakery won the Most Successful Speciality Bread Exhibitor and a $500 gift voucher from Woolworths. The artisan bread from Summit Bakery uses all-natural levains and sourdough, showing real respect and mastery of traditional artisan bread-making techniques.
Jasmine Jan won the Most Successful Cake Exhibitor and a World of Cake Hamper valued at $350. Jasmine is a former CDU bakery student who describes herself as a “Cakescaper” a term she has coined to describe her unique approach to cake and pastry making. Jasmine has a cake studio on the outskirts of Darwin’s rural area where she grows many of the ingredients used in her creations. Jasmine is also known far and wide for her artwork across many different mediums which shines through in her cakes and pastries that are each a work of art in themselves.
Caramella Patisserie won the Most Successful Sweet Pastry Exhibitor and a $100 gift voucher from NBIA. Caramella Patisserie is a traditional Greek patisserie in the northern suburbs of Darwin that produced a selection of exquisite pastries showing real flair and creativity paired with traditional Greek techniques and flavours.
Humpty Doo Bakery won the Most Successful Savoury Pastry Exhibitor and $500 worth of pie pallets from Simple Simon (Lindsay PieMaking Equipment).
Apprentice Jake Woppencamp from Old Mates Bakery won the Most Successful Apprentice Exhibitor and a JBL Bluetooth Speaker from Arafura Catering Equipment.
On behalf of all entrants and the judges, we would like to thank World of Cake, Manildra Group, Woolworths, Simple Simon (Lindsay PieMaking Equipment), the NBIA, and Arafura Catering Equipment for supporting the Northern Territory baking community by sponsoring the 2023 Northern Territory Baking Show.
