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A LITTLE French fancy captured the hearts of the judges and helped housewife Muriel Dunand walk away with a dazzling set of prize diamond earrings.
Eleven amazing chocolate creations were placed on display on the Maya Stand at Seef Mall extension as cooks from across the kingdom put their talents to the test.
Crowds watched on as Maya chefs Bertrand Espouy and Rohitha Edweeria, alongside the RIA Centre's Christine Gordon and GulfWeekly Editor Stan Szecowka licked their lips and tucked into the treats.
Chef Bertrand, chef chocolaterie and Maya brand manager, said: "Most of the chocolate cakes were good. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the sponges came along, they are normally quite difficult to prepare.
"Most of the entries were not too sweet as I feared they might have been. The presentations were also very good.
"The winning cup cake's texture was superb. The cake had an element of surprise with liquid chocolate inside which complemented the dry sponge exterior. It was a marriage of sponge and liquid chocolate."
Winner Muriel Dunand from Tubli was delighted that her little cakes with the added extra proved so popular. She said: "I have been baking as a hobby for years and I'm always trying out new recipes and creations.
"I feel the two most important things to consider while baking a cake are the quality of chocolate used and the oven's baking temperature."
Mrs Dunand, lives with her husband, Eric, a Telecommunication Regulatory Authority employee, and their three children Nils, 17, Swan, 15, and Now, 12. They moved to the island a year ago from France.
Her delightful delicacies pipped accountant Muneera Al Muqla, from Isa Town, by a point. She said: "A friend who loves my chocolate cakes urged me to take part and I thought it would be fun."
She did not go home empty-handed and walked away with a diamond pendant as a runner-up prize. Third place went to Amal Al Dosseri who was presented with a sparkling Cerruti watch.
The top three also received vouchers and boxes of chocolates as part of this month's Maya Chocolate Festival. A contest to find the 'best homemade chocolate dessert' takes place on December 19.
