It's (cake) picnic time in Durban on Saturday
Durban picnic
Yolisa Nhlangulela, Neliswa Khuluse and Kelly Fisher from the Chefs Training and Innovation Academy are going to be our cake elves, assisting us with making sure that the cakes are properly presented and cut at today's cake picnic.
Image: Leon Lestrade Independent Newspapers
OUR much anticipated cake picnic and cake decorating competition takes place in the Durban Botanic Gardens today.
The Independent on Saturday looks forward to hosting its readers at the event, where you can witness Durban’s finest cake artists display their bakes while feasting on cake (naturally) and tea or coffee.
Fondant, cream and icing will go head to head as competitors vie for the top prize and prestige of being crowned best cake decorator.
While some participants will be measuring and mixing their way to the prize, others confess they’ll take a shortcut and decorate a store bought cake. Our marketing guru, Sinethemba Hlela says there’s only one rule for the picnic; “no cake no entry”.
“Entry to the cake picnic is exclusive to those who bring a cake,” says Hlehla.
Picnic tickets which are available at Quicket cost R120 and include five tokens for cake slices, a goodie bag, and a cup of tea or coffee.
Our celebrity judges include well known sisters and co-owners of Chilli Chocolate Chefs, Zainab and Faatimah Paruk.
They’re excited to see how the city's diverse people express their creativity and say they will be scoring participants on flavour balance, creativity, and technical execution.
More scientifically, it's about how they feel when they taste the cake. The sisters believe that “food is as much about emotion as it is about precision.”
The sisters have the following advice for those who want to win; keep it simple, get the basics right and a clean presentation will hit the sweet spot.
Wesley Retief, the technical sales representative from Snowflake will be leading the panel of judges and says he expects to pick up some hot tips from the bakers. “I can also pass on my knowledge,” said Retief, who has almost two decades of experience in the industry. Another celebrity judge is Sibahle Khumalo, the owner of The Sweet Slice Luxe Cakery in Durban who has been waiting for an event like the Independent on Saturday's cake picnic.
In keeping with the theme, those joining the picnic, have been encouraged to wear floral attire and bring picnic blankets to relax and enjoy the live entertainment.
The event takes place from 11am to 3pm.