SOME 20 professional and 10 amateur bakers displayed their creativity in interpreting the 1Malaysia concept through a special 1Malaysia cake decorating competition.
The school hall of SJK (C) Chung Hwa 2 in Taman Bagan, Butterworth, where the event was held, was a hive of activity as the participants rushed to complete their tasks within 80 minutes.
The participants, from as far as Selangor, Taiping, Parit Buntar and Padang Serai, used multi-hued butter icing, royal icing, fresh cream and jam to decorate their cakes.
Many used the 1Malaysia logo in their icing designs, while many also depicted the Jalur Gemilang and other floral designs on their masterpieces.
Both the professionals and amateurs competed in their respective categories to win RM500, RM300 and RM200 for the champion, first runner-up and second runner-up respectively in each category.
■ Artist at work: Chew dressing his cake during the 1Malaysia cake decorating competition at SJK(C) Chung Hwa 2, Butterworth
The event was jointly organised by Barisan Nasional Bagan parliamentary constituency co-ordinator David Chua’s office, Penang Chinese Chefs Association and Chef Eddie Choong Bake and Culinary Centre.
Lee Ai Suan, 23, from Padang Serai, who emerged champion in the Professional Bakers’ category, said she featured the different cultural celebrations in Malaysia by designing a ketupat, an Indian oil lamp and oranges to depict Hari Raya, Deepavali and Chinese New Year respectively.
■ Home bakers: Winners in the Amateur Bakers category (from left) Norhayati, Rohana and Siti Rafinyal with their prize winning cakes after the prize presentation ceremony
“The competition was rather stiff as many other participants were equally good,” she said.
Lee, who took up a professional chefs’ diploma course from KDU Penang, said she was presently working as cake decorator at LA Delight bakery in Bukit Mertajam.
The category’s first runner-up Chew Ken Jit, 43, who owns Sweet Secrets Cake House in Taiping, Perak, said he used white chocolate to design caricatures of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Malaysians of different races.
“I have been in the baking line for 23 years, but this is my first time taking part in a cake decorating competition,” he said, adding that he used fresh cream to decorate his entry.
Second runner-up in the category, Ng Pei Ee, 18, from Selangor, who undertook a six-month baking course at Chef Eddie Choong Bakery and Culinary Centre in Butterworth, said she was glad her maiden entry, bearing a giant Number 1 on the cake, with small flags of the different states on the side caught the judges’ attention.
The Amateur Bakers’ category champion Rohana Abdul Razak, 29, from Butterworth, said she used butter icing for her design, which carried a unity theme, bearing the caricature of three young children.
The category’s first runner-up Norhayati Zainudin, 52, from Butterworth, said she had been in the baking line for over 10 years, but this was the first time she came in second.
“I am thrilled because so far, the highest I have attained in competitions is second runner-up.”
Housewife Siti Rafinyal Ahmad, 60, from Butterworth, who came in second, said the last time she won such a competition was in the 60s.
Chua said the event was aimed at fostering closer ties among the different races, which was similar to the objectives of the 1Malaysia concept.
Also present was Barisan Sungai Puyu constituency co-ordinator Sum Yoo Keong, Barisan Bagan Jermal co-ordinator Teh Lay Cheu, Penang Chinese Chefs Association chairman Datuk Tan Gin Soon and Chef Eddie Choong Bakery and Culinary Centre Bhd proprietor Eddie Choong.
Star MetroFriday October 21, 2011
