The Love Marketing Bake Off Final at Stancliffe Hall.
Published On Saturday 14 Sep 2019 by Sticky Beak
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As you may have read in previous blogs, I have been one of the guest judges in the Love Marketing Bakeoff heats held at Stancliffe Hall. My lovely friend Dawn owns Love Marketing and there’s never a dull moment around her, whether it be personally or professionally; she’s one of the most positive people you’ll meet, with a “can do” attitude that dazzles you.
After all the heats had been completed and wild cards given, it was the day of the final and garden party to celebrate Love Marketing’s 10th (!) birthday. The weather was on its best behaviour and the team at Stancliffe Hall were firing on all cylinders to ensure that the garden party and Afternoon Tea were going to be memorable.
The theme for the 4 hour show-stopper final was (what else?) Derbyshire and the 8 teams didn’t disappoint in their creations. Actually, before I go any further I am going to mention all the finalists because they truly did bake their socks off: Derby Museum, Blue Arrow, Ask The Chameleon, AIM, SayLaVy, Stancliffe Hall, HSK Greenhalgh, and Reconnecting You. I salute you all!
Before they all took to their respective stations, I went around asking what they were planning to bake, and was really pleased to hear that many of them were paying homage to one of the ‘shires most famous items: the iconic Bakewell Pudding/Tart with its Almond and Raspberry notes. There were also some of the counties’ savoury stars in attendance; Hartington Stilton to name one.
As on previous occasions as soon as Chef Simon Lilley said “ready, steady, bake!” the kitchen at Coghlans Cookery School at Stancliffe Hall transformed into a hive of activity. Mixers began to whirr, pans clanked and scales groaned under repeated loads. It fascinated me to see the many different styles of working; some were very ordered and precise, others (and I would be in this category) were more relaxed and “let’s see how it goes” in their approach. Once the initial thrum had subsided into a calmer state, Dawn and I went to grab a coffee and put together the goodie bags she’d thoughtfully got for all the finalists and judges.
As a nod to the culinary theme, Dawn had had wooden spoons etched with the occasion along their handles, so that each contestant had a memento of their efforts. Yes, we know that a wooden spoon is often given as a booby prize, but having eaten all the previous cakes in the heats we knew that there were certainly no inferior specimens at the Love Marketing Bakeoff 2019! Both of the winning bakers in the triumphant team would receive a gorgeous Dartington Glass Cake Stand, something to really treasure in future years. And each finalist got to keep their pinny with “The Love Marketing Bakeoff 2019” printed on it (I got one too!!). Each judge got a wooden board with “Star Judge” and their name on it, and both Chefs, Simon Lilley (Coghlans Cookery School) and Ewen Crilley (University of Derby), got chocolates and a superb bottle of wine to enjoy.
Talking of Chef Simon Lilley, he was reigning supreme and dishing out extra ingredients and equipment as needed. He was also getting stuck in and washing up the seemingly endless line of dirty utensils and bowls (who knew Chefs could wash pots?! – sorry Simon, couldn’t resist!). The very dapperly-dressed Tom got roped into drying up; his waist-coat may have looked supremely smart but it didn’t exclude him from domestic duties. Even I got a tea-towel given to me!!
After about 45 minutes of the competition, the aroma of cakes baking began to waft around the kitchen and my nostrils began to twitch. I resisted the urge to be too nosey and keep checking how things were progressing; everyone was working hard and I didn’t want to get in the way.
There weren’t any massive moments of panic as cakes, pastries and savouries came out of the ovens – always a good sign! With the cakes baked and cooling on trays, it was time for some of the competitors to turn their attentions to making their final touches. Having watched one team make their sugar paste models (and the colossal effort involved), I have a new-found respect for this art.
Stancliffe Hall had opened all the rooms up for the Garden Party guests, so plenty of folk took the opportunity to go around and find out about everything this incredible venue has to offer. Although undeniably grand, Stancliffe Hall remains very welcoming and friendly, making it perfect for any event, whether corporate or personal. For any brides-to-be reading this (or friends of potential brides), you really do need to get in touch with Victoria who co-ordinates nuptials at Stancliffe Hall; not only does she know her stuff, but she is super-friendly and approachable . Team Stancliffe had really pulled out all the stops for Love Marketing’s Afternoon Tea Garden Party; everyone remarked how beautiful the white cloth-laden tables, with their gleaming glassware and classic white crockery, looked.
All too soon Chef Lilley called “time’s up” and we watched as all the finalists brought up their finished creations and talked us through the concept of them. At the start I had been curious to see how the theme of “Derbyshire” for the show-stoppers would be interpreted, and intrigued to see how far the finalists would push themselves. They didn’t shy away from the challenge – far from it! In true Derbyshire style, they had all thrown themselves headlong into the task at hand, pouring heart and soul into their efforts.
The panel of judges began tasting our way through the varied selection of sweets, savouries and even drinks (!). Individual tastes varied, and with the standard being incredibly high it took us longer than usual to whittle it down. Eventually we narrowed it down to our agreed top three, then two, and after more deliberation and discussion we agreed on our winner. At this point we asked the finalists to come and carry their masterpieces over to the main house where the guests were all chatting and munching away merrily (we daren’t carry them in case we dropped one!).
Dawn from Love Marketing and Chef Ewen Crilley from the University of Derby both made speeches and then it was time to crown the winner - SayLaVy – who was shocked to say the least! Team SayLaVy was the wildcard; I remember her creation being in a heat I judged, a spectacular blue “Cinderella” cake. This time, Sara had based her Afternoon Tea around her late Nan’s Royal Crown Derby tea service; the china was beautiful, as was every single morsel that Sara had baked. We all loved the Lemon Curd and Jam that Sara had also made during the bakeoff – as if making sponge, scones and meringues wasn’t enough of a task!
You know when an event has been great when you can go to recently stressed amateur bakers and ask them if they’d do it again, and they all reply “yes!” with smiles on their faces. I think it safe to say that Love Marketing had organised a cracking event and managed to celebrate their 10th birthday in some style. I for one have got my fingers crossed that this will become an annual event, although I won’t be volunteering to compete - I managed (somehow) to curdle my Bakewell Tart mix at school!!
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