The Great Brownie Bake-Off: A Nerve-Racking Experience

When I think back to the first time I ventured out to judge a baking competition, it's a bit of a blur, but it's also one of the moments that shaped my journey. I was invited to be a judge at The Great Brownie Bake-Off in Islington, London - an event I was attending in place of Tom from Hobbs House Bakery, where I worked at the time. Along with judging I was also asked to do a demo, it could be anything chocolate, so I decided to make my signature mocha tarts. Easy, right?

Lost in London

Now, I'll admit, I didn't know London that well back then, I got completely lost on my way to the event and arrived just 15 minutes before I was due to go on stage. Needless to say, I was absolutely terrified! In the chaos of trying to get there, I missed all the other demos, and instead of being calm and prepared, I was thrown into the deep end.

The Judges Table

When I finally made it, I was ushered straight to the judges table, right next to Fred Clapperton, the head pastry chef at Gü puddings. The panel of judges included Paul A Young, the renowned chocolatier, and Edd Kimber, a winner of The Great British Bake-Off . The other judges were all well-known chocolatiers, bakers, and pastry chefs - people I admired and looked up to. I felt like a small-town girI from the Cotswolds, suddenly sitting with the giants of the pastry world. The table was surrounded by home bakers of all ages, and contestants all eagerly watching us. But instead of feeling at ease, I felt more out of my depth than ever.

A Moment of Redemption

Before I went up to do my demo, I was nervously handed a little taster of one of the brownies that had been entered into the competition. I took a bite, and immediately regreted it, my mouth was so dry because of the nerves, and so was the brownie! Fred Clapperton, sitting next to me, turned to me with a serious look on his face and said in his thick French accent "Dear God.... my palate just died". I could barely swallow from giggling so much. It was the kind of nervous, awkward moment you can't help but embrace.

It gave me a tiny spark of confidence before my demo. Maybe if I could get through that, I could do this, too.

The Breakfast Bar Stage

But there was no denying it, I was still terrified. The event took place at LOOK MUM NO HANDS café in Islington, and I was told I would be doing my demo at the breakfast bar ( the long table that you sit at on stools and which stretched the entire length of the café) It sounds great in theory, right? But because I was second to last, I had to clamber over everyone else's used baking equipment - dirty bowls, spilled flours, and half empty cups of coffee. It was a mess. And in that moment, I realised: I had no idea what I was doing. Not a clue.

I Had No Clue What I Was Doing

The recipe I had brought with me, something I knew like the back of my hand, suddenly didn’t make sense. I couldn't even read it properly. It felt like all the words were jumbled up on the page. My heart was racing, my hands were shaking, and my nerves were getting the better of me. All I had to do was make a batch of my mocha tarts, my signature dish - one I had made a million times before! The very dish I was known for, the thing I was comfortable with. But in that moment, it felt like the most difficult task in the world.

Overcoming The Nerves

Somehow, I managed to pull myself together. The mocha tarts came together beautifully, just like they always did. Once they were baked, I handed them around the room, nervously watching as the judges took their first bites, Not that I was in any competition, but I wanted them to love them. Would they taste the passion and love I had put into them ?

Fred looked up from his plate, with a smile on his face. In his thick French accent, he said, "C'est magnifique!" And just like that, I finally let out a sigh of relief.

Sharing My Brownie Journey

While I didn't actually make brownies at the event, the whole experience reminded me of why I became obsessed with baking brownies in the first place. There are so many recipes out there, and like dating, you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your "prince." But when you do, you find the one recipe that's worth saving and repeating. I've had my fair share of trial and error with brownies - personally, I like mine dark, fudgy, and rich. Good quality chocolate is a must! I stick with the simple ones because they sell best, especially with families who come in with their children.

Lessons Learned

Looking back, that experience taught me so much. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, and in the end, it made me a better baker and a better person. It reminded me that sometimes, even when we're terrified, the things that scare us the most are the ones that help us grow.

Brownies were my first baking obsession when I first started baking! After judging The Great Brownie Bake Off, I perfected my brownie recipe-rich, fudgy, and full of flavour, Grab it here!