CRÈME DE LA CRÈME
When food-obsessed blogger Sophie Greig started experimenting in the kitchen and putting twists on French classics, she did not expect to be crowned Scotland’s Best Home Baker
Fresh from being crowned Scotland's Best Home Baker, Sophie Greig shares delicious recipes to try at home
Chocolate – milk chocolate, with a sprinkling of honeycomb, to be precise – makes the world go round, writes Rosie Morton. And if home bakers were ever looking for a sign to dust off their aprons and start experimenting with such heavenly ingredients, lockdown is surely it.
Many have experienced exploding sourdough starters. (Guilty as charged). Others have clarted every square inch of their worktops in cinnamon butter. (Me? Never...) But some – like Sophie Greig from Ellon in Aberdeenshire – have shown real promise.
Indeed, she has been crowned Scotland’s Best Home Baker by The Scottish Café & Restaurant in Edinburgh after entering their Bake Off-inspired national competition. Her mouthwatering Caramel Apple Paris Brest recipe, which she has shared with Scottish Field, won her a place on the café’s iconic Afternoon Tea menu.
The third-year chemical engineering student from the University of Edinburgh is currently studying from home in the north east, affording her some extra time in the kitchen. Inspired by her grandmother’s taste for the finer things, Sophie’s culinary creativity was encouraged from a young age.
‘It’s my way of relaxing,’ begins Sophie. ‘Even if it’s a hard bake, it’s definitely my way of forgetting about university work for a while and doing something completely different.’
Surprised and delighted to have fought off fierce competition from the length and breadth of the country, the youngster’s blog – ‘Sophie’s Slice’ – has since consumed much of her time.
‘At the moment, I’m sticking to quite classic recipes, and I do like to give them a little twist,’ she says. ‘The coffee cake I’ve shared with you was inspired by a café bombon which is Spanish coffee with a shot of espresso and condensed milk. That was my favourite thing when I went on holiday there. I try and take flavours from other things I’ve eaten and combine them into my baking.’
Though her sweet tooth dominates, Sophie doesn’t shy away from the odd savoury recipe, for which she uses seasonal ingredients.
‘It just tastes better when you get the food seasonally and from local shops,’ says Sophie. ‘I stayed in the Marchmont area of Edinburgh which was really nice. There’s a shop called the New Leaf Co-Op which I went to most days.’
If vanilla panna cotta with orange roasted rhubarb, or three cheese, garlic and herb twists have been borne out of lockdown boredom, at least these culinary highs will bring a smile while we ride out the last of this storm.
You can follow Sophie on her Instagram page @sophies_slice.