Sweet success: Team Malaysia wins big at the Asian Pastry Cup 2014

Sweet success: Team Malaysia wins big at the Asian Pastry Cup 2014

Three Malaysian chefs did the nation proud at the Asian Pastry Cup 2014 (APC) competition held in Singapore last week. Asia's leading pastry competition for professional chefs pitted eight teams of talented food specialists from Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, the Philippines, China, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

In addition to earning the prestigious honour, Team Malaysia will also represent the region at the World Pastry Cup 2015. Led by Chef Chiam Ko Seen, the Malaysian team worked together to create four show-stopping masterpieces in a span of eight gruelling hours.

Teams Singapore and Australia, which placed second and third respectively, will also join Team Malaysia at the World Pastry Cup next year.

Joining the three teams at the exclusive World Pastry Cup 2015 are teams Philippines and China, that earned the "Lyon Passport" thus garnering them entries to the prestigious world competition.

During the APC, each team had to present a selection of chocolate showpiece, sugar showpiece, 20 plated desserts and two classic chocolate cake desserts as part of the competition. The two-day APC was held in front of a live audience, who were impressed by the level of mastery displayed by the chefs.

The result was a host of stunning sweets that were presented to the judging panel headed by World Pastry Cup president and founder Gabriel Paillasson and international president of the jury Frédéric Bau.

"I'm constantly impressed by the growing talent in Asia. The teams definitely raised the bar once again this year. Team Malaysia was crowned winner because they displayed exceptional skill, technique, creativity and a level of organisation that was unsurpassed by their competitors. Their creations also delivered on flavour and embodied all the elements of great desserts," said Paillasson.

The biennial competition, already in its fifth edition, provided spectators and participants insight into the art of pastry making.

A panel of judges consisting chef Andre Chiang of Restaurant Andre, chef Ryan Clift of Tippling Club and chef Bruno Menard who helmed a three Michelin-star restaurant in Tokyo offered a fresh perspective on pastry making. Their candid and informative commentary during the competition was representative of their own unique modern and traditional cooking styles.

The top three teams also took home monetary awards. These funds will be used to assist the teams in their preparation for the upcoming World Pastry Cup.

"After months and months of training, it is a real honour to have won the Asian Pastry Cup. We are excited to represent Asia at the World Pastry Cup and will be working hard to ensure we don't disappoint," said Chiam.

The Asian Pastry Cup 2014 was held in conjunction with Food and Hotel Asia, Asia's largest food and hospitality trade event.

For more information, go to www.asianpastrycup.com or look up Asian Pastry Cup on Facebook.

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