This year the 2023 RAS Professional Baking Competition Judging took place during the show at the showgrounds on Tuesday 5 September 2023 making it possible to display the prize-winning exhibits to the public.
The competition was open to professional and apprentice bakers and included categories for bread, savoury pastry, patisserie products, sweet goods, and gluten-free products. These categories were separated into classes like vanilla slices, finger buns, cakes, tarts, eclairs, sausage rolls, pasties, pies, white bread, rye bread, sourdough, and various rolls. This means that bakers and apprentices throughout South Australia had a broad selection to choose from.
The panel of judges comprised professionals from the Australian baking industry, South Australia TAFE and our very own General Manager, Dean Musgrave. In addition, each year the Society provides an opportunity for a celebrity and kid taste test, which we find interesting to see how the results compare to those of the judges. This year the classes included in the public taste test that took place on the afternoon of judging at the showgrounds were standard sausage rolls and yeast-raised chocolate doughnuts.
Dean Musgrave said, “The level of professionalism and quality of product demonstrated by the exhibits in the 2023 RAS Professional Baking Competition was outstanding. I’m proud to say that all who entered maintained high standards making it difficult to judge. I was also excited by the level of skill and passion coming from the bakers I spoke with at the competition and around Adelaide”.
Thank you to MOI International, the National Baking Industry Association (NBIA), Puratos, and Unox Australia for sponsoring the 2023 RAS Professional Baking Competition. Your support of the industry resulted in a great selection of prizes for the winners including cash vouchers from MOI International and Puratos, membership vouchers from the NBIA, and a countertop electric oven from Unox Australia.
Congratulations to the Champion of the Show winner, Seaside Sourdough, who also received the Highest Mark in Bread award. Well done to Banana Boogie Bakery for receiving the Highest Mark in Savoury Pastries. Well done to Sky City Casino for taking out the Highest Mark in Patisserie. Congratulations to CJ’s Bakery for winning the Highest Mark in Sweet Goods and their apprentice Rebecca Tracey for winning the Highest Mark for Apprentice.
Overall, the competition was close so well done to all who entered, we hope you received some constructive feedback and look forward to seeing your products again next year at the 2024 RAS Professional Baking Competition. The complete results can be found here.