Baker’s blooming marvellous dessert
TO CELEBRATE 100 years of Southport Flower Show, town baker Jemma Melvin - creator of the Platinum Pudding, the official dish of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee - has created a special dessert for the centenary celebrations.
Honouring all things floral, the dessert is an elderflower, honey and lemon posset, served with lemon custard biscuits - a dessert that celebrates the vibrant flavours of the garden.
Jemma will demonstrate the dessert on the Thursday and Sunday of the show in the Cookery Theatre sponsored by Lancashire Tea and Nationwide Produce, showing guests exactly how to make the delicious dish.
The dessert will also be served at Wednesday’s Gala Dinner preview night and Friday’s Ladies Day celebrations.
Jemma said: “I’m so excited to be creating a special dessert for this year’s Southport Flower Show to celebrate 100 years of the show.
“The show and everyone who attends has been so supportive and kind to me over the last couple of years and I have loved sharing my recipes each year.
“This year will be extra special and I’m happy to be playing a part.”
Jemma was crowned the winner of Fortnum and Mason’s prestigious Platinum Pudding Competition with the irresistible Platinum Jubilee Trifle, a dessert that’s earned its place in British food history alongside timeless favourites like Victoria Sponge and Coronation Chicken.
Her lemon Swiss roll and Amaretti creation triumphed over thousands of entries, earning the esteemed title of the official pudding for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The competition, aired on the BBC and overseen by Dame Mary Berry, catapulted Jemma into the limelight on both national and international stages.
Since her triumph, Jemma’s culinary escapades have taken her far and wide, gracing the screens of This Morning, Good Morning Britain, The One Show and international platforms like Good Morning America and TF1 France.
Jemma’s also been on a whirlwind tour, sharing her renowned recipes at countless events across the country, from captivating audiences at The Cake & Bake Show in London to charming crowds at Bake International in Birmingham plus, of course, Southport Flower Show.
Jemma has partnered with charities to create recipes such as Macmillan Cancer Support for their annual Coffee Morning Campaign, crafting a special Macmillan trifle recipe for hosts nationwide, as well as working with and creating recipes for The Eden Project, FFLAG and The Big Lunch charity campaigns.
Recipes by Jemma have been published in top publications such as The Daily Mirror, Notebook Magazine and The Radio Times.
Her culinary expertise has also caught the attention of major brands, leading to exciting collaborations with the likes of Hilton and Ford.
Jemma also bagged a regular contributor spot on BBC’s Morning Live where she shared fun, easy and cost effective recipes for all occasions, live on primetime TV.
Recently, Jemma received a prestigious honour: a portrait by renowned artist David Remfry, proudly displayed at Fortnum & Mason Diamond Jubilee Tea Station, commemorating her culinary achievements.
Today, Jemma shares her culinary creativity on her Instagram page, @ icedbyjem, with fun and original recipes.
Southport Flower Show, sponsored by the Seventy
Ninth Group, is the UK’s largest independent flower show and attracts over 55,000 visitors across four days.
Visitors to this year’s show can enjoy inspirational show gardens, spectacular floral displays, gardening advice, a pop-up shopping village with everything you need for the home and garden, cookery demonstrations, live music, entertainment and so much more.
This year’s event runs from August 15-18.