Earlier this year, the National Baking Industry Association and CDU TAFE joined forces to host and judge the 2023 Northern Territory Baking Show. The competition was open to apprentice and qualified bakers located in the Northern Territory area.

The categories in the 2023 Northern Territory Baking Show included Show Bread, Specialty Bread, Cakes, Sweet Pastries, Fancy Pastries, Savoury Pastries, and three Apprentice Categories. The panel of judges for the 2023 Northern Territory Baking Show comprised David Barker, Bill Denniss, and Phillip Lodge from CDU Tafe; Dean Musgrave, General Manager of the NBIA; and chef Yakob Abraham who assisted with the cake and pastry section.

“Judging the 2023 Northern Territory Baking Show has been an awesome experience. Particularly Jasmine’s tart in the Cake and Pastry (Sweet Pastry) category and the standard of sourdough was excellent. I enjoyed meeting new faces at the BBQ and awards presentation, and it was also great to get out and visit some of the NBIA members and other bakeries in the Darwin area,” said Dean Musgrave.

Once again, the Show Bread and Specialty Bread categories were the most keenly fought over. The results were very close again this year with new arrival Old Mate’s Bakery taking out the Most Successful Bread Exhibitor award. Old Mate’s Bakery won many of the bread categories, and their apprentice Jake also took out the Most Successful Apprentice category.

David Barker said, “The 2023 Northern Territory Baking Show was well supported this year with entries across all 27 categories. The products on display were of a very high standard and really showcased the exceptional and talented Bakers we have here in the NT.”

Old Mate’s Bakery is only new to Darwin, but the owner/bakers are well known to the NT baking industry, having worked all over the NT for many years.

Congratulations go out to all who entered but particularly to the Champion of the Show winner Humpty Doo Bakery, who received a bundle of goodies including an NBIA membership, a Baking Business magazine subscription, three cookbooks, and the perpetual shield. They also won the Savoury Pastry section with their outstanding pies and sausage rolls and placed very highly across all of the individual classes.

First place in each class received a trophy, while second and third place received certificates. The results are as follows:

• Champion of the Show—Humpty Doo Bakery
• Most Successful Bread Exhibitor—Old Mates Bakery
• Most Successful Speciality Bread Exhibitor—SUMMIT Bakehouse
• Most Successful Cake Exhibitor—Jasmine Jan Studio/Gallery
• Most Successful Sweet Pastry Exhibitor—Caramella Patisserie
• Most Successful Savoury Pastry Exhibitor—Humpty Doo Bakery
• Most Successful Apprentice Exhibitor—Jake Woppencamp from Old Mate’s Bakery