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Bourke Street Bakeoff wrap up, part 3 of 3
Everyone likes warm cookies.
I arrived at The Drake Hotel early and met the reps from Type Books and HarperCollins Canada as well as the one competitor I didn’t know, Stephanie Dickison of One More Bite. Some of the cookies were broken, but they were broken perfectly in half, making me glad that I’d chosen to warm them up and cut them before serving.
Following Ivy into the kitchen, I found myself filled with excitement. It was only the second restaurant kitchen that I’ve been in. I slightly feared that my choice of footwear (boots with heels) would prove dangerous in the kitchen but I also knew that when I put them on in the morning. My cookies were warmed and sliced into triangles and other geometric shapes, then some were baked again. Double-baking wasn’t the original plan but some seemed kind of raw in the middle even though they seemed fine the day before. Not having had time to make a test batch, it was just one of those things.
Kitchen staff who sampled my gingerbread (the least pretty pieces) before it went out enjoyed it.
A glass of wine, and show time. For days I’d been referring to myself as the “underdog”, joking that I’d have to kiss babies and flirt for votes. As I said in my post on October 16, “…[I] won’t use bacon as a gimmick. I feel like an underdog… but guaranteed, I’m going to bring it. What I bake will rock your socks.”
Judging our creations was National Post columnist & House & Home Magazine editor Amy Rosen, Michelle Edgar, Owner/Pastry Chef of The Sweet Escape Pastisserie, and Kyla Eaglesham, owner of Madeleines Cherry Pie & Ice Cream. They, of course, selected the “judges choice” winner. Michelle called me on coming over to “judge’s table” to suck up. I wasn’t hiding the fact that I was doing it but I was also doing it in jest.
Also judging our creations were anyone who showed up. The event was open to the public and those in attendance were to vote for their favourite.
I got some encouraging comments. Some pointed out to the seasonal nature of the cookies. A number of people liked that I used three types of ginger. Positive comments didn’t translate into a win, but that’s okay.
Who won? Not David Ort. Sadly, he had to drop out of the competition because he hadn’t received the cookbook. He provided support though. The winner was Kristina Groeger for her pork, apple and braised red cabbage pie (page 212). Her modification was a pickle on the bottom. Coming in second was Stephanie Dickison for her financiers with strawberry (page 322). Joel and I tied for third. He made the chocolate sour cherry biscuits that I’d decided not to make, substituting bacon fat for butter and using booze marinated cherries on a select few for the judging panel. Phew. As third place winners we chose from books that were donated by HarperCollins Canada. I really could have done better. I could have been more exact with my cookie thickness. I could have gone into with more confidence and less self-consciousness. I could have been more of a perfectionist. Sure, I wish I’d won or come in 2nd place, but I’m happy that I answered the call and showed up. I did it to have fun, not to win. As hokey as it sounds, we were all winners.
It was a fun experience. Thank you to the judges and everyone who came out to participate. Thanks to friends and colleagues who asked how it went, even though they couldn’t be there. Thank you to the kitchen staff at The Drake Hotel for allowing me to encroach upon their space. I was seriously worried about getting in the way or interrupting the flow of the kitchen.
Full photo set on Flickr:
Eat well, be well.
