The country’s premier pastry competition was recently held last June 10, 2010 at White Space in Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati.   True to form, this year’s Pastry Challenge, Fonterra’s 2nd, with the first one successfully held in 2008 in White Space, Makati, was full of excitement and of course, yummy and delicious desserts.  This year, it was bigger and better and included 3 competing categories – Lifestyle Bakers, Hotels/ Restaurants and Culinary Schools, with the latter being the newest category added.   

Pastry Chefs from all over the metro were ready with their toques and spatulas at 1pm, eager to start on the competition.  Pastry chefs, known in their respective fields and for their delicious desserts were invited to act as judges which included the following – Johnlu Koa, Jackie Ang Po and Jackie Laudico for the Culinary Schools category, Philippe Agnese, Dorothy Ferreria and Albert Ros for the Lifestyle Bakers category and Otto Wiebel, Kenny Kong and Buddy Trinidad for the Hotel and Restaurant category. 

Participants for the Culinary Schools Category were Global Academy, Enderun Colleges, College of St. Benilde and Our Lady of Manaoag.  For the Lifestyle Bakers category, the following battled it out, Mina’s Kitchen, Sweethome Bakeshop, Park Avenue Desserts, Sweet Mouthfuls and Blue Butter.  For the Hotels and Restaurants category, the following were the finalists, Manila Hotel, Cicou, Crowne Plaza, Hyatt Hotel, Intercontinental Hotel Manila and Bellevue Hotel.  

Spectators, comprised of schoolmates, friends, relatives and of course the judges, were allowed to freely go around and observe the participants as they busily prepared their dessert masterpieces, using only Anchor products, from Cream Cheese, Culinary Cream, Whipping Cream and of course, butter.  Anchor Dairy Products come from only the best the freshest quality milk from New Zealand and is the perfect partner for dessert masterpieces. 

As the day winded down, the following were declared the winners: Roland Macatangay of Manila Hotel for the Hotel and Restaurants category, Mina Hernandez for the Lifestyle Baker category and April Montiflor of Global Academy for the Culinary School category.   The winners all took home plaques and cash prizes with the Hotel and Restaurant category winner taking home an all-expense training package at a French Culinary school in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

Roland Macatangay of Manila Hotel, Winner of the Hotel and Restaurant Category

April Montiflor of Global Academy, Winner of the Culinary School Category

Mina Hernandez of Mina’s Kitchen, Winner of the Lifestyle Bakers Category

Judges intently tasting the delicious desserts

April Montiflor hard at work with her masterpiece

Nothing but the best – Anchor Products as the perfect companion for delicious pastries

(L-R) Carlo Mendoza, General Manager, Fonterra Brands Phils., Leah Barin, Food Service Manager together with the Pastry Challenge Judges, Otto Wiebel and Kenny Kong