It’s arguably the best job in the world for anyone with a sweet tooth – cutting and tasting cakes and slices entered in a cookery contest.
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And Alysa Stewart takes her role very seriously.
Ms Stewart, a state judge, has a full calendar of judging commitments across NSW where she must choose the best cakes and jams based on a strict criteria.
The Belmont woman was in Gresford last week to judge the Gresford CWA’s branch level cookery contest, which is part of The Land Cookery Competition.
She says it’s all about encouraging the cooks, not discouraging them, and providing tips to help them perfect their baked goods.
The 10 entries had Ms Stewart enthralled in the dedication the cooks had shown.
“It’s a very good standard, it’s probably about the same standard as last year,” Ms Stewart said.
A sultana cake caught her eye on the checkered tablecloth and she smiled as she cut it in half.
“The fruit is distributed very evenly, the texture is good, and also the flavour is good,” Ms Stewart said.
That cake will progress to the next
level of the statewide competition, she said.
A lemon and sour cream cake also captured her attention and will progress to the next level.
“It has excellent texture and very good flavour,” Ms Stewart said.
“With CWA you’ve got to be very careful with your cakes, you’re not allowed to have any rack marks on the bottom of it.
“If you do and it’s entered at group and state level you’ll lose points.”
Entries that qualify for group level will be judged in the coming months before the state final in May.
Cookery officer Dotti Hilliard said it was difficult to attract entries in the annual competition, despite the group promoting the event throughout the district.
She said there had been a dramatic fall in entries over the past few years, and the branch hoped to attract new people.
The competition attracted up to 58 entries at branch level in its prime.
“It’s getting to the stage where we’re going to have to get out there are coerce people to come and join,” Ms Hilliard said.
Ms Hilliard said work and family commitments often kept new members away.
“It’s hard to get the younger people involved because they’re so busy – they work and they have kids,” she said.
