Celebrity chef to judge charity bake-off

Monday 27 May 2019

Aspiring bakers are being challenged to wow a celebrity chef by making the "ultimate afternoon tea" in order to raise money for physically disabled islanders.

The Big Bake is a new event coming to Jersey this autumn that will aim to help the Jersey Cheshire Homes recoup some of the costs of its recent £2million extension.

Dubbed 'The Big Build', the project has seen nine new bedrooms, a dedicated therapy room, an extra lift and a meeting space added to the Jersey Cheshire Home's site at Rope Walk. 

The home's new facilities were completed as the result of an extensive fundraising campaign to gather the £2million needed for the build, but the amount raised didn't quite meet what was needed.

Video: Jersey Cheshire Home has completed their 12-month construction project to expand their residential facility. (Youtube/Jersey Cheshire Home)

The Big Bake therefore aims to help with further fundraising. Its inviting teams of six to enter the contest, and challenges them to raise £3,000 through sponsorship.

Under the leadership some of Jersey’s best local chefs, ten teams will go head-to-head and compete to create and bake the best afternoon tea. They will be taught the skills they need to deliver a creative and technically challenging showstopper that will wow the judges and paying guests.

The main event in October will be hosted by a celebrity chef and one of the world’s most renowned pastry chefs will judge the final presentations before contestants plate up to 400 covers of afternoon tea.

Pictured: Participants will be shown how to deliver a creative and technically challenging showstopper.

Hannah Shellswell, Creative Director at Freedom Media, the organisation behind the contest, explained: “This competition will give participants a taste for professional baking as they will receive training and mentorship from some top local chefs.

"We know there are lots of keen bakers out there who would love the opportunity to expand their baking repertoire and learn new baking techniques while doing something rewarding by raising money for charity at the same time.”

The event has been geared around encouraging team building, and there are flexible entry options. “People can choose to enter a team of people from a single organisation, or team up with a partner organisation, or put together a group of people (so long as they aren’t professional chefs!)," Ms Shellswell added.

Pictured: The modern extension of the home has made an "enormous difference", according to its General Manager.

David Lord, General Manager of the Jersey Cheshire Home, said the modern extension to the home has made an "enormous difference" to the home and the comfort of their residents, who require round-the-clock care.

"We appeal to businesses, organisations and individuals to consider taking part in The Big Bake competition to help us recoup some of the enormous costs of our build. It promises to  be great fun, a wonderful team-building experience and a rare opportunity for keen amateur bakers to be mentored by some of Jersey's top chefs.”