November 2014

UCB hosts charity bake-off

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The University kitchens hosted St Basils business bake-off, where finalists gathered to compete for the title of the charity’s ‘best business baker’ of 2014. 

The six competitors, each representing a local organisation, were faced with two baking challenges: the Marzipan Technical Challenge, where they were tasked with creating edible garments to help clothe a ‘naked’ gingerbread chef, and the Cupcake Challenge, where they had to create 12 cupcakes with three different designs. 

The bakers were Rachel Crump (Birmingham Hospital Saturday Fund), Eloise Lewis (JHC Systems Ltd), Fionnuala Reihill (Gateley), Chloe Lee (Keepmoat), Natalie Hurdwell (Town Hall Symphony Hall) and Cecelia Russell (Barclays). 

Anne Morton, Fundraising Officer at St Basils said: "We were absolutely astounded by the level of preparation, enthusiam and skill shown by all 6 contenders. It's a shame there can only be one winner - they were all fantastic! Congratulations to Natalie! And a massive thank you to UCB, our three judges,all 6 finalists and to all the businesses who organised bake sales and have supported their colleagues in this endeavour. It all helped to make this an exciting event which we hope to repeat next year." 

The panel of judges consisted of the Birmingham Mail’s food and drink writer Mary Griffin alongside UCB bakery lecturer Charlotte Thompson and chef apprenticeship lecturer Stuart Wildsmith. 

The trio of judges highly commended housing association Keepmoat’s Chloe Lee for the intricate detail on her pumpkin-themed display, but they judged that the best overall cakes were baked by Natalie Hurdwell from Birmingham’s Town Hall Symphony Hall. 

For being crowned St Basils ‘best business baker’, Natalie was awarded a luxury Christmas gift hamper generously donated by Harvey Nichols in the Mailbox. 

St Basils is a charity that works with young people to enable them to find and keep a home, to develop their confidence, skills and opportunities and to prevent homelessness. They work with 16-25 year olds that are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, and provide homeless prevention services across Birmingham, Solihull, Sandwell and North Worcestershire.

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