I can’t believe it’s nearly a year since Manchester Pride last year; a year since my place of work took part in the parade for the first time. And we’re gearing up for the parade next week.
But enough about work. This weekend was all about cake – cake with heart, cake to win prizes and cake to share with new friends.
The Village Bakers held their first Bake Off, to both celebrate and to raise money for Manchester Pride. And as expected the categories were themed: Campest Cupcake, Tartiest Tart, Rainbow Cake, Firmest Buns and a business category for local businesses who also wanted to take part.
Walking in with my own very modest entry (I had my backup tart, the original failing dreadfully), I knew competition was going to be incredibly stiff.
Judges John Whaite (Great British Bake Off), Jennie McAlpine (Coronation Street) and Claire Mooney (Manchester Pride and singer/songwriter) had a very difficult road ahead. Head Village Baker, Kev had the unenviable task of keeping track of scores but with so much cake, pastry and icing ahead, it was going to push cakey limits.
The Molly House was full to overflowing, every ticket had been snapped up (well, there was free cake on offer) and we all waited patiently while the judges finished tasting the two categories downstairs, Tartiest Tart and Campest Cupcake, before we dived in for a nibble ourselves.
Whether you wanted to wrap your lips around a stilletto heel, or dive face first into a cocktail cupcake…
Or even say hello to Dorothy and her friends…
There was plenty of opportunity.
Upstairs held the very hotly contested Rainbow Cake – and there were some absolutely stonking examples.
Iced, frosted, looped rainbow, double rainbow, different flavour in each colour – I don’t know how some of these were done, but my god, they were brilliant. And how on earth the judges managed to cope, I don’t know.
Firmest Buns saw David Beckham inspired golden buns, Easter style buns and salted caramel and apple swirls.
And finally, in the Business section, there were pork buns from the Yang Sing, a teapot cake from The Molly House and the most extravagantly iced rainbow cake I’ve seen!
And while the judges fended off sugar highs, we swept in to taste for ourselves.
These little mini Victoria sponges were lovely and light and this rainbow cake with it’s cheesecake frosting was utterly gorgeous.
But my views weren’t the important ones, it was the judges decision. So…. Drum roll please…
Tartiest Tart:
Went to Paul Dempsey and his chocolatey, leopard print number.
Campest Cupcake:
Lisa Dunnington and her Strawberry Fizz cupcakes (so good, I didn’t even get a crumb)
Firmest Buns (not a touch of cellulite on these):
Robert Parr for the sticky salted caramel and apple buns.
Rainbow Cake:
There really could be only one, at that was Neil Duncan for the polo shirts – the cake was just as amazing as the icing.
Business:
Our hosts for the day won this one with their teapot – shown here with the beautiful rainbow cake centre exposed.
Best In Bake Off:
Given how absolutely gorgeous his work was, how light the sponge, Neil’s stunning shirts meant that he just had to win. He’s an absolute natural.
And I do hope that he gets the Toyah signature and tattoo in celebration over Pride as he planned.
So, for a first bake off, the talent at the Village Bakers is fantastic. And I’ll get working on this tart recipe to perfect it.
In the meantime….
More cake?