Held in September at the Fine Food Australia show held at the ICC in Sydney’s Darling harbour, the title of young pastry chef champion for 2019 was taken out by Jack Mylott from Dolcettini Patisserie, Dural, NSW, and the title of Bake Skills champion young baker by Hannah Knight from Woolworths, SA.

The program kicked off on day 1 with the pastry program, with competitors producing gateau st honore, mille feuille, vol-au-vents, palmiers, seafood gourmet pies, sweet tarts and modern eclairs.

Day 2 saw competitors taking part in a special creations day to show off their innovative and decorative skills. Products being judged included baked cheesecakes, Callebaut chocolate entremets and a spectacular special occasion cake.

Day 3 marked the start of the baking program, with a busy schedule of doughs, including Danish, ciabatta, rye sourdough, Turkish, croissants, instant white, brioche and baguettes.

Day 4 involved the creation of old fashioned favourites and new age creative challenges. Competitors also produced their spectacular bread showpiece.

Full results for Bake Skills 2019 were:

Champion Pastry Chef: Jack Mylott from Dolcettini Patisserie, Dural, NSW

1st runner up: Kyah Valler, Moxons Bakery, Armidale, NSW

2nd runner up: Eryn George, Le Petite Gateau, RACV Club, Victoria

Category prize: The Official Great Aussie Pie competition prize for best seafood gourmet (bronze medal) awarded to Kyah Valler, Moxons Bakery

Champion Baker: Hannah Knight from Woolworths, SA

1st runner up: Liam Meesen, Irrewarra Sourdough, Irrewarra, Victoria

2nd runner up: Kirsty Taylor, Bakers Delight, Warilla, NSW

Category prize: The Fraser & Hughes uniform prize for best bread showpiece awarded to Hannah Williams.

In addition to their winner’s trophies and Bake Skills Australian green jackets, both Jack and Hannah won a wonderful six-day/five-night trip to Singapore in March 2020 to attend the FoodHotel Asia show together, with visits to the Callebaut Chocolate academy and the Lesaffre baking centre.

First runners up Kyah and Liam won the EOI three-day/two-night trip to Brisbane this October with tickets to both the ASB National conference and the chairman’s black tie Awards for Excellence dinner.

A special recognition and big thank you to both the judging panel, who donated their time and considerable experience to overseeing this year’s event, as well as the Bake Skills sponsors.

Judges: Head judge: Leif Madsen (EOI); Alejandro Luna (Sonoma); Shane Wolf (consultant chef); Corey Howard (EOI); Brad Hewitt (Lesaffre)

Event partners: Moffat; EOI; F Mayer & Fine Foods

Sponsors: Lesaffre Australia Pacific; Manildra flour; Allstates DCP Marketing Services

Supporters & Providers: Pace Farm eggs; Complete display cabinets; Anchor food professionals; Carlyle racks & wires; Fraser & Hughes; Official Great Aussie Pie comp; Sydney TAFE; Regency TAFE; William Angliss TAFE; Wollongong TAFE; the BAA; the ASB; NBIA; Baking Business

Steering Committee: Gary Willis & Greg Burge (Mayers/ Callebaut); Leif Madsen & Laurie Farr (EOI); Brad Williams