Queen of flavours Syabira’s Bake Off joy at ‘jackpot’ win
DARING Syabira Yusoff was last night crowned Great British Bake Off champ after getting the judges eating out of the palm of her hand with peculiar flavours.
Malaysia-born Syabira, who came to the UK to study for a PhD in 2013, called her win the “biggest achievement in my life”.
She admitted: “I feel like I have won the lottery jackpot.”
Syabira beat rivals and close pals Sandro Farmhouse and Abdul Rehman Sharif to the title following an impressive start in the picnic signature challenge.
Her fare included aubergine, mushroom, quail’s egg and piccalilli pies, plus broadbean, coriander and salsa verde sandwiches.
But the 32-year-old cardiovascular researcher’s technical offering – summer pudding bombe – collapsed after the jelly and mousse failed to set. However, Syabira’s flavour alchemy rescued her bid to collect the cake stand trophy and she crafted an orangutan showstopper.
Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith loved the bonkers combination of tarragon shortbread and black pepper and blackberry butter cream.
Prue, 82, said: “If this was week one, I wouldn’t believe these flavours could work, but I’ve learned to trust Syabira.”
Paul, 56, said it was her risktaking that clinched the title for the “incredible baker”. He added: “Some of the flavours we have never had in the tent before and are unlikely to have again.”
Sandro, 30, and Abdul, 29, also celebrated their friend as the “Queen of Flavours”.
Syabira said her win helped her overcome shyness, revealing: “I am coming out as a new person. I became more confident and I trusted my instincts. Hard work always pays off.”
Syabira, who lives in London with her boyfriend Bradley, had been favourite to win after landing Star Baker three times.
She now plans to launch a YouTube channel showcasing basic techniques.