Let Them Eat Cake
If you love the chef-challenge reality shows on the Food Network and TLC, then the Montreal Cake Show would be the place for you—cake competitions, a live cake-off and a cupcake challenge were just some of the mouth-watering events of the second annual pastry mega-event this past weekend.
The Montreal Cake Show is the only bilingual, multi-level baking expo in North America, and was held at the Vanier College Sports Complex on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20.
Paige MacEachren, the executive director of the event, has a love for the baking scene. She wanted to bring a unique and diverse show to Montreal and donate the proceeds to charities. The cake show is also entirely volunteer-run.
Tal Erdman studies event planning and management at John Abbott College, and is interning as one of the head-organizers.
“I wanted to take part in and see the planning from A to Z of a show of this magnitude,” said Erdman. “I really want to stress the importance of hard-working volunteers and organizers. Without them, there would be no event.”
A variety of family-friendly activities were held at the show in the Kids Zone, which offered cookie decorating and model magic sculpting.
In the cake expo room, vendors sold a variety of baking supplies, and the cake competitions allowed pastry artists of all skill levels to submit their cake for judging. Categories included weddings, shoes and Halloween. The show also offered baking and decorating classes for all would-be bakers.
On Saturday, 25 local bakers competed in the Charity Cupcake Challenge. This year’s theme was Halloween. Bakers managed to squeeze elaborate structures, such as Michael Jackson in a graveyard (inspired by his 1982 hit “Thriller”), onto the small surface of a cupcake.
The cupcakes were judged on taste, appearance, creativity and technique, with the judges picking their winner. Up for grabs was a people’s choice award for the attendees’ favourite cupcake, and gift certificates or cash prizes for the bakers with the best one.
During the judging period, cake show-goers could buy a “cupcake challenge pass,” which allowed them to sample cupcakes made by the competitors. The proceeds went towards the Kids Help Phone and Christmas for a Cause charitable organizations.
The second competition, the Live Challenge, took place on Sunday.
“The most popular event is the Live Challenge, and it’s known as our main attraction,” said Erdman. “It mimics competitions [seen on the] Food Network, which the attendees love.”
Similar to cake competitions seen on television, there are three teams of two who create a cake in three hours in front of a live audience. A $10,000 grand prize is awarded to the winning team.
The proceeds from the Live Challenge go to the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation. The Live Challenge and Cupcake Challenge are judged by a group of celebrities in the baking world. Christian Faure, Lauren Kitchens and Becky Rink are a few of the notable judges on the panel.
Even with all the cake craziness of the event, Erdman was most excited about simply supporting the charities.
“Last year we raised $7,000, and this year we hope to exceed it,” she said.
