Holly’s menu impressed a panel of judges comprising giants of the pastry chef world: Mick Burke, Claire Clark, Benoit Blin, Liam Grime, Mark Poynton and Jerome Dreux.
Holly’s winning entry included a chocolate and pistachio soufflé with chocolate sauce and crumb, followed by tropical fruits dessert with tempered white chocolate collars, mango mousse and coconut sorbet and a selection of whole shortbread and orange shortbread petit fours.
When she was declared the winner she said: “That was completely unexpected! I’ve had a passion for baking for quite some time but have only been learning professionally for six months. Being up against chefs who have done competitions before and work in kitchens, compared to me who works in a shop and trains two days a week, it still feels like a dream. I went in to the competition focused and gave everything I could.”
Holly won prizes including trips to two events organised by the Master Chefs of Great Britain, who organised the competition.
The runner up for the event was Charlotte Ginn from Cambridge Regional College. The other five finalists were: Alessandro Coleman (Pinkmans Bakery), Cara Simmons (Stoke Park), Jennifer Haughey (Hermitage Road Bar and Restaurant), Laura Aylott (The Thatcher's Arms) and Maxine Otto (Coworth Park).
Sponsoring the event was: Koppert Cress; Town and Country Fine Foods; Oliver Harvey; Ponthier Fruits and Roller Grill.