Tasty competitions coming to town

EXPECT the smell of freshly baked bread and sweet vanilla to waft through the air when the Baking Association of Australia’s hot cross bun and vanilla slice competitions come to Bendigo for the first time next weekend.

The events, set for Saturday, 26 February, form part of the BAA’s Victorian baking show, which executive officer Tony Smith said was branching out from its humble beginnings in Shepparton.

“Well over 10 years ago, a group of bakers in the regional parts of Victoria established a hot cross bun competition and they used to make it the bakers’ weekend away,” he said.

“They used to run a small competition, but it was also about catching up and they would have a couple of their suppliers or industry people do a few demos or talk about some new things in the industry.

“It’s grown and now the BAA Victorian committee would like to roll this out regionally. In Bendigo, this is the very first time anything like this is being held.”

Both competitions are open for free to the public to watch at the All Seasons Resort Hotel from 11am, where a judging panel is expected to taste entries from chefs based across the country.

“They will drive from South Australia or from over the border near the Riverina area of New South Wales and then we even get the guys flying in from Tasmania,” Mr Smith said.

“We always get at least 100 bakeries entering and putting all different goods in to be part of the competition.”

A training trophy is also up for grabs for the Victorian TAFE or training company with the most skilled baking apprentices.