You might remember that I posted some time ago (back in summer!) about the PUDZ competition that was taking place in Manchester?
Well, it seems they have found their top pudding maker, and Sam Greaves (19) from Bishopston, Bristol has been crowned PUDZ Amateur Pudding Chef 2008. PUDZ has been searching all year for the best amateur pudding chefs in the UK. Heats took place across the country and the top chefs from each area were chosen to compete for the overall title, judged by arguably one of the UK’s best dessert chefs, Mich Turner.
The five fantastic regional finalists came from all walks of life and baked, chopped, piped & drizzled their way through the heats, beating off stiff competition from their region to the final in London. Each prepared their dessert one final time for Mich Turner and a judging panel of food journalists.
Sam, a student at Plymouth University, prepared Autumn Fruit Eve’s pudding in the Bristol heat and beat off tough competition to win the chance to bake his dessert in the final for the esteemed judging panel. They described his dessert as ‘interesting, seasonal and different, packed full to the brim with flavour’.
Mich Turner is the author of best-selling title, Spectacular Cakes and founder of Little Venice Cake Company, not to mention the celebrity cake maker of choice. She supplies cakes to all of the top London hotels, Gordon Ramsey’s restaurants and also personally baked birthday cakes for the Queen, Madonna and David Beckham.
Mich regularly appears on a variety of cookery shows such as Ready Steady Cook, Market Kitchen and Saturday Kitchen. Mich has a new book on sale in January called ‘Couture Wedding Cakes’ and is set to appear in a special on ‘Alternative Christmas Cakes’ for Market Kitchen this Christmas. Mich Turner said: “I was amazed by the overall standard of the competition – it was extremely high and demonstrated how many talented dessert chefs there are in this country. I hope it encourages other people to get baking.”
A selection of top food journalists joined Mich on the judging panel and critiqued the five desserts for taste, aroma, use of ingredients, appearance and texture.
Mich continued: “Sam’s dessert was prepared to such a high standard that although it was a tough competition to judge, the overall decision was a unanimous one with the panel.”
As well as taking the title of PUDZ Amateur Pudding Chef 2008, Sam Greaves wins a fantastic weekend away for two at The Pudding Club, a sought after place on Mich Turner’s Christmas cookery course, a signed copy of ‘Spectacular Cakes’ and a year’s supply of PUDZ.
Sam Greaves said: “It was such a fantastic experience to meet Mich and she gave me some really useful hints and tips to take away. “I am honoured that she considered my dessert to be the winner and I really cannot believe that I have won!”
I'm Andrea, and am obsessed with creating fabulous food. After I managed to ditch dieting, the reason Chocolate and Beyond was born, it seemed natural to evolve my site into a foodie blog. More so since I also ditched animal produce to be vegan. Now, I love showing how inventive cruelty-free cooking can be. And sometimes I like to rant, too. I wouldn't be myself otherwise :) x 
belated congratulations to PUDZ Amateur pudding chef 2008
Posted by: Suzie | June 30, 2017 at 11:51 AM