A Cantabrian baker has taken out the title of New Zealand's best muffin maker at the Muffin Break Ultimate Bake Off and will represent New Zealand in the upcoming Australasian bakers challenge.
Originally labelled 'the Bakers' Challenge,' the annual Muffin Break Ultimate Bake-Off aims to find the fastest, cleanest and all-round best muffin maker who also adheres to the Muffin Break brand values of freshness, wholesomeness, reliability, quality and safety.
Jacinta Potter, a 20-year-old baker from the Barrington Mall Muffin Break in Christchurch, says she was shocked and delighted to hear she had been awarded the title of New Zealand's best muffin maker at the Muffin Break Ultimate Bake-Off.
Miss Potter scored 99 percent for her muffins from the judges, putting her in first-equal spot with a Sydney finalist also competing for top Australasian honours. According to Miss Potter, she would never have entered the competition if it weren't for the support of her family and workmates.
"I was apprehensive about entering the competition, but with a lot of encouragement from both my Muffin Break team and my family, I decided to back myself and have a go. When I got the phone call to tell me I'd won the title of the best muffin maker in New Zealand and would be travelling to Australia for the Ultimate Bake-Off, I couldn't stop screaming!
"Baking is my passion – for me, it is all about creating my own little bit of love and allows me to really use my creativity and my imagination," she says.
As reward for her title of New Zealand's best muffin maker, Miss Potter won a $500 cheque and will take part in the Ultimate Bake-Off competition, to be held at Muffin Break head office training academy. Having never travelled to Australia before, Miss Potter says she can't wait to hit the ground running and compete for the title of the best muffin maker in Australasia.
Muffin Break general manager, Garry Croft, says it is fantastic to have Kiwi baking talent represented in the competition.
"New Zealand produces some outstanding bakers, so we're delighted to have Jacinta represent New Zealand in the Muffin Break Ultimate Bake-Off 2012 grand final and we wish her all the best," says Mr Croft.
The grand final round of the Muffin Break Ultimate Bake-Off 2012 will be held at the Muffin Break training academy in Sydney from August 28-29, with each grand finalist given just 15 minutes to serve the judges three traditional muffin varieties of their choice plus one signature dish.
Judges will assess the grand finalists on their baking skills, specifically; preparation, procedures for high-fibre and gluten-free muffins, time and efficiency, troubleshooting knowledge, food safety, kitchen cleanliness and final product quality.
The overall winner of the Muffin Break Ultimate Bake-Off 2012 will receive a KitchenAid Mixmaster worth $500 and a $1500 Visa gift card.
For more information:
Visit: www.muffinbreak.co.nz
