Sweetart Bake Expo ‘eight’ leaving no crumbs behind

The Jamaica Pegasus hotel was a little sweeter over the weekend as attendees feasted their eyes on the gateau mastery placed before them. Celebrating the year of new beginnings, the Sweetart Bake Expo ‘eight’ for the grand occasion, leaving no crumbs behind.

“It was a successful staging. From the all-male team who executed their pieces so beautifully; to the delectable treats offered by the exhibitors, most of whom were first- timers; to the patrons who came out to support the event, all culminating to a wonderful evening,” event conceptualiser and organiser Andrea Green told Food.

The annual event featured a host of cake entrepreneurs who gave patrons a taste of what they had to offer. Guests roamed the delightfully transformed sweetened oasis, mingling and sampling the very best pastry from all across the island. There was also an opportunity to purchase slices of their favourite desserts; a mission which these food lovers gladly accepted.

With prizes and surprises available at the various booths and live demonstrations entertaining patrons centre stage, the main event of the evening came when the judges and guests alike voted for the best cakes in the pre-decorated cake competition.

The categories this time around ranged from wedding, sculpting, ‘80s and ‘90s cartoons to Jamaica folklore, sugar art, celebration cakes and cake toppers, and cake enthusiasts and experts were called upon to make their assessment solely by choosing the numbers on the cakes.

Sweet Lady Cakes entered three cakes in the competition. Other entries came from Cakes by Ali Sweet Fantasies, Treat Mi Nice Cakes, 1727 Exquisite Cakes, Auriel Swaby, Cakes You Like Ja, SugaMama Cakes, Cakes by Queata, Kita’s Cakes, J Smith Cakes, Nordia Hazel and Triple J’s Delectable Delite.

Among the exhibited elites, SugaMama Cakes walked away with the People’s Choice Award for her sweet rendition on the retro cartoon character, Garfield the cat. Baker and cake designer Rochelle Makyn also took home the top prize for her category. Cake by Queata copped the main prize for judges’ pick with her tasty take of the mammoth. The best-tasting cake was a tamarind cheesecake, made with love and passion, from Saiji Dreamz.

Aside from the pre-decorated cake competition, the team also hosted its popular children’s baking competition, where young ones from the audience are chosen and challenged to whip up sweet courses. And for the first time ever, incorporated a paint-and-sip experience for others to savour.

Additionally, the creative maestros’ face-off competition saw male patissiers putting their skills on the main stage. In the end, Cakes You Like Ja came in third, J Smith Cakes came second, while first place went to Cakes by Damaine.

All in all, the event left a sweet taste in the mouths of cake lovers, who are already looking forward to celebrating the ninth staging.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com