TAKEAWAY WITH A TWIST WOWS JUDGES AT BIG HALIFAX BAKE OFF!

A takeaway treat of fish and chips, pizza and curry was served up to crowds at the Halifax Food and Drink Festival at the weekend ““ made entirely from cake!

Judges at the Festival’s ‘Big Halifax Bake Off’ were treated to sweet instead of savoury fast food on Sunday June 23 when cake-maker Rachel Rosier scooped first prize for her medley of fish and chips, sushi, pizza and hot and spicy chicken jalfrezi made from sponge and icing!

Rachel, who runs Rosier’s Cakes & Chocolates, earned first place in ‘The Professionals” category for her baking-mad selection of cake creations in the shape of takeaway favourites. The competition had tasked entrants with baking something that celebrated the Festival or Halifax as a whole.

“The lemon sole was actually lemon drizzle cake and tasted amazing, ” said Lee Marshall, owner of Design House Restaurant Halifax, who was one of the Bake Off judges alongside double gold medalist Para-Olympian Hannah Cockroft, Andrew Scott, catering manager at Harvey’s of Halifax, Lynn Alderman from The Wee Bakery and broadcaster Annie Stirk.

“It was brilliantly creative and a worthy winner,” added Annie Stirk.” And, in fact, all the judges were blown away by the amazing talent the Big Halifax Bake Off attracted.”

Nina McArthur also impressed the judges in the ‘Summer Showstopper’ category with her giant Rolo cake, in honour of Halifax’s Makintosh’s Confectionery firm. The judges, who called the cake a “fantastic idea” and commented on its “lovely rich sponge and delicious caramel layers”, were similarly impressed by a fresh fruit and icing bow cake put together by 15-year-old, Ryburn Valley High school pupil, Husnaa Hussain.

Budding baker Lynn Bolton also won an award for her Parkin in the ‘Teatime Favourites’ category of the contest, which was just one of the delicious attractions at this year’s hugely successful two-day Festival.

As predicted, the sixth food festival drew big crowds during Saturday and Sunday June 23 and 24, with its tasty mix of live chef demos, cookery workshops and more than 70 stalls selling lovely local morsels.