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BAHRAIN'S best bakers are hoping to cook up a treat in a culinary contest to find who can dish up the best chocolate cake and dessert and walk away with a sparkling set of ear-rings.
Maya La Chocolaterie has been inundated with calls from ambitious bakers hoping to pick up the prizes after reading about the competition in last week's GulfWeekly.
In a bid to help assist entrants with their preparations Rohitha Ediriweera, Maya Patisserie Chef, has offered some top tips for success in the kitchen.
He said: "Readers should approach cooking with a passion. Cooking is a marriage of flavours, therefore, you should think what would go well with chocolate and mix it together - like orange and chocolate or pistachio, chocolate and mousse.
"Be daring - mix and match different flavours to get a unique taste and don't be afraid to experiment!
"Cooking is like a stress relieving therapy, it brings joy to create something that people enjoy ... and let's not forget that food makes people happy!"
His other 'must do' suggestions are:
l Always pre-heat the oven before baking that will ensure that your cake will rise evenly
Never open the oven before the cake has risen or it will affect the cake
When decorating the cake wait for it to cool for at least four hours to be on the safe side.
Marzipan is amazing when it comes to decoration, you can be creative with how you mold it and place it beautifully on your cake
Always think ahead and have your ingredients and tools ready to use
The makers of the most delicious cake or dessert could walk away with a pair of white gold or sparkling diamond drop prize ear-rings in the competition.
Maya La Chocolaterie is gearing up for the festive season by launching the first Maya Chocolate Festival running next month at Seef Mall with the contest, unique displays of mouth-watering delights and a host of activities to attract and entertain chocoholics of all ages.
The event will highlight the busy season of festivals which include Eid, National Day, Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Judging the cakes will be based on taste, creativity, presentation and ingredients.
To take part visit the Maya shop to fill out an entry form. Judging for the best cake will be held on Friday, December 5, and judging for the best dessert on Friday, December 19.
Readers should bring to the stall their chocolate creations on the above dates and then the judging panel will rate the desserts accordingly, from the points accumulated the winners will be announced.
Maya will also be introducing a vast range of chocolates and desserts and gift items to compliment the season, of which 20 per cent of the proceeds of the sales will go to support autism centres in Bahrain.
A special stand will be set up in Seef Mall. For more details contact 17583368.
