West Footscray’s Santiago Cuyugan will be competing against finalists from as far as Russia and the US in the Savour Patissier of the Year competition in Melbourne this month.
The pastry chef and chocolatier at Bibelot in South Melbourne could not reveal this year’s creations but said he would be playing it safe after learning from last year’s mistake.
“I did a pastry with … apple and parsnip and unfortunately two of the judges from Europe couldn’t understand what a parsnip was,” he said. “Maybe the translation didn’t go through.”
Entrants are required to make four pastries in the categories of cake, eclair, dessert and tart. Last year, Mr Cuyugan made a milk chocolate, lime and earl grey cake which was “shaped like a bunch of bubbles”.
He also made a pecan, vanilla, milk chocolate and spice tart, and mascarpone, apricot and almond eclair.
The four judges are internationally-renowned pastry chefs Christophe Michalak, Jordi Roca and Antonio Bachour, and chocolatier Paul Kennedy.
The competition will be held at Foodservice Australia from May 28-30 at the Royal Exhibition Building.
Visit: savourpatissieroftheyear.com
