It was sugar and spice and all-thing nice for the lucky judges of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust bake-off inspired staff competition last Friday (5th December).
The winning bakers from the surgery, medicine, family and corporate departments at Andover War Memorial Hospital, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital and the Royal Hampshire County Hospital (RHCH) came together for the final bake-off and presented to the judges spectacular winter themed cakes.
The cakes were judged on presentation, creativity and the taste by Hampshire Hospitals NHS FT chairman, Elizabeth Padmore, public governor Joanne Sutcliffe, chief financial officer David French, and RHCH Head Chef Andrew Bennett.
First prize went to Alan Kemp, who is a porter and based at RHCH in Winchester, for his lemon ‘bomb’ cake. The lemon cake had popping candy on top and was surrounded by mini cheesecakes and gingerbread stacks with detonators made out of sugar strands.
On collecting his prize Alan said: “I am surprised my cake won; the other cakes in the final were all brilliant.” Alan’s wife came along to watch the prize-giving. She said: “Alan loves to experiment with cooking. My friends come over for a coffee morning every Monday and each week Alan bakes us a new creation.”
Alan added: “I haven’t always been a keen baker. I was in the Navy for 25 years in the logistics and catering department, and although I didn’t work in the kitchen, I picked up some tips. I got interested in cooking when I started making bread. I love the social side of cooking and sharing food, and I love my job at the hospital for the same reason; I get to meet all sorts of people.”
HHFT Chairman and bake-off judge, Elizabeth Padmore said: “Judging the bake-off competition is a real pleasure. The standard of the cakes in the final was extraordinary. All of the cakes in the final looked and tasted wonderful and the finalists showed remarkable talent. I also congratulate and thank the staff who entered cakes in the earlier heats. Our bake-off competition has brought together staff from many different roles and professions from across our three hospitals.”
The winners from each of the heats went through to the final. The other finalists were Laura Wilson, Personal Assistant in the family department; Deborah Allen, Discharge Practitioner in the medicine department; and Lucy Austin, Oncology Radiographer in the surgery department (not pictured).