Kenwood Young Baker 2021 Is Back!

Kenwood Young Baker 2021 in association with the Association of Teachers of Home Economics (ATHE) is back! As secondary students are settling back into school, Kenwood Ireland is calling on them to channel their inner baker – the coveted title of Kenwood Young Baker 2021 is up for grabs.

You mightn’t have to impress Paul Hollywood, however, you will have to create a cake that wows judges: Master pastry chef, Shane Smith, multi-award winning pastry chef and TV chef, Aoife Noonan, President of the Association of Teachers of Home Economics, Michelle Mc Cabe, and Kenwood Recipe Development Chef, Sophie Meechan.

The competition runs from 6th September – 18th October and winners will be announced on 22nd November. This year the cake must be a single tier cake and the theme is ‘Dreams’, so whatever the theme means to you the judges want to see it!

Last year saw 850 entries and Kenwood want to top that this year.

The Prizes

• Everyone who enters will get a certificate

• Kenwood Ireland are offering secondary students the chance to win a full appliance kit out of their Home Economics classroom plus their very own Kenwood stand mixer

• Cookery course via Zoom with Shane Smith for each winning class.

• Winners and runner ups will receive Kenwood Kids Club kit

The Judges

Master Pastry Chef, Shane Smith has over 20 years experience working in some of the world’s most celebrated pastry kitchens across the globe. Shane’s love of culinary arts started at a young age and he was inspired by his two grandmothers and mum who were all avid home bakers.

At the age of 16, he began his first job as a Commis Chef at a local hotel, where his love of cooking was cemented.

The aspiring chef began his formal training at Killybeg’s Tourism College in Donegal and went on to graduate with a Degree in Culinary Arts, specialising in Pastry, from Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.

Shane Smith said,  “We’re so excited to see what students will create this year. The talent out there is incredible and I’m just thrilled that I can be involved. My best advice for students taking on the challenge is to plan and most of all enjoy it.”

Aoife Noonan is a multi-award winning pastry chef and TV chef from Dublin. She graduated with a Culinary Arts degree before moving on to work in some of the best restaurants in the country.

Aoife Noonan says: “This is a great opportunity for the young bakers of Ireland to showcase their talents. With the theme ‘Dreams’ I can’t wait to see what students dream up.”

She was Head Pastry Chef in two Michelin Star Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud for nearly four years, before taking on Executive Pastry Chef positions in various restaurants in Dublin.

Michelle McCabe is a Home Economics teacher and President of the Association of Teachers of Home Economics.

She is passionate about all things Home Economics and believes the subject equips students with a wide range of life skills and knowledge so they are prepared for their future as individuals and as responsible members of society.

The Categories

• There are two categories Junior (1st – 3rd year students) and Senior (4th – 6th year students)

• There will be an overall winner and two runners up of each category

Rules

For a full list of rules of entry and judging criteria see: kenwoodyoungbaker.com