Paisley Daily Express

Competitio­n is a piece of bake for chef Gary

- ALISON RENNIE

The best bakers in Bishopton were put to the ultimate test when award winning chef Gary Maclean came to town.

The Masterchef: The Profession­als winner judged the Great Bishy Bake Off 2019 which was held in Angelinis restaurant.

It was all part of Bishopton Week which also included 5k and 10k fun runs, magic shows, Big Vern and the Shootahs playing live and Bishopton Day.

There were plenty of entries for Gary to sample including superherot­hemed cakes, cupcakes, raspberry sponges and a three-tier chocolate cake.

Brian Cunningham, co-owner of Angelinis said: “The event went really well. The committee were amazed that such a high profile celebrity would come and judge the event.

“As well as judging the cakes and picking the winners, he entertaine­d everyone with his stories of his experience­s of judging and being judged as a top UK chef.

“Gary was amazing on the night and spent time with staff, entrants and locals.”

The rules were that all entries had to be homemade and not from a packet.

It was judged on appearance and taste.

Yvonne Grant, secretary of Bishopton Week committee, said getting Gary along to judge the competitio­n was a massive coup for the community.

She added: “Bishopton is massively increasing in size and we want to keep that community spirit — we want to use Bishopton Day and Bishopton Week to do that.

“The Great Bishy Bake Off really sets that off as people really get engaged with it.”

On the day, Mairi Logan won the competitio­n with her chocolate cake , Nancy Forbes was the runner up with her carrot cake and Claire Little came third with her superhero sponge cake.

James Cairns from the Bishopton Week committee said: “We are a new committee and put everything together in 10 weeks. I know Gary and called in a favour and he agreed to come and judge the bake off.

“There was a great turnout, it was fantastic.

“We had 15 entries and the standard was very high. Gary was blown away by how good it was.

“We’d definitely like to do something like this again next year.”

 ??  ?? Taste time Gary samples the delicious cakes Star bakers Nancy Forbes (left) and winner Mairi Logan with Gary. Photos: Jamie Shanks
Taste time Gary samples the delicious cakes Star bakers Nancy Forbes (left) and winner Mairi Logan with Gary. Photos: Jamie Shanks
 ??  ?? Up, up and away Gary in action Stunning Mairi’s winning chocolate cake A great day Gary kept his audience entertaine­d
Up, up and away Gary in action Stunning Mairi’s winning chocolate cake A great day Gary kept his audience entertaine­d

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