THE BEST-TASTING CHOCOLATE CAKE COMPETITION

In September Food Weekly turns two and Sandton City is celebrating its 40th birthday. To mark the occasion we are looking for the country’s best chocolate cake recipe — and YOU are going to make it

The Blackout Cake consists of three decadent layers of dark chocolate sponge layered together with chocolate pudding and finished off with a chocolate icing and sprinkling of chocolate cake crumbs. Aptly named, not because of the damage to the constitution (by eating too much of a good thing) but for the blackout drills of World War 2. Popularised by the Ebinger Baking Company in the US, the cake became the most sought-after indulgence for any occasion.

THE COMPETITION

We are looking for the BEST-TASTING chocolate cake (looks aren’t everything) invented by a Food Weekly reader. E-mail your recipe to food@sundaytimes.co.za with CHOCOLATE as the subject. Include your name, phone number and physical address (not PO Box); please state that you are a home (amateur) baker, that the recipe is your own original creation, and that it has not previously appeared in any print or other format. The top 20 recipes will be tested and six finalists will compete in a bake-off in Sandton City’s Checkers Court on September 14. Entries close at noon on August 27. Terms and conditions apply.

THE PRIZES

FIRST PRIZE: Top-of-the-range Elba gas/electric stove and Whirlpool Jet Chef microwave oven from Hirsch’s, plus R10 000 cash.

SECOND PRIZE: A 60cm Whirlpool induction hob and Whirlpool Jet Chef microwave oven from Hirsch’s, plus R5 000 cash.

THIRD PRIZE: Kenwood appliances to the value of R5 000, a Whirlpool Jet Chef microwave oven from Hirsch’s, and R2 500 cash.

THREE RUNNERS-UP: Whirlpool Jet Chef oven

from Hirsch’s.

THE RULES

The competition is open to SA residents over 18 and is for amateur bakers only. Professional chefs and bakers may not enter. Employees of Times Media Ltd, Whirlpool, Elba, Hirsch’s or Sandton City and their immediate families may not enter. Judges’ decisions are final. Finalists and winners must be prepared to be photographed and interviewed for marketing purposes. Finalists will be flown to Joburg where necessary and accommodated in Sandton overnight for the final bake-off.