WRITTEN BY LEBO MJANGAZE
Jenna Ernstzen, 20, from Baysville, East London, emerged as the best up-and-coming baker in the Border-Kei region after beating 151 other contestants in the inaugural Snowflake Rising Stars baking competition earlier this month.
Held on Saturday, August 31 at the Blue-Ribbon Hospitality & Cookery school of Excellence in collaboration with Snowflake and Border Kei Chamber of Business, Ernstzen impressed the judges with her floral cake called ‘Shirley’s Garden’, which saw her secure the top prize of R20 000, a business toolkit worth R30000, and Snowflake stock to help grow her business.
Presently Ernstzen is on a roadshow with Snowflake, demonstrating her baking prowess at malls across the city with her first stop last week at Vincent Park. She will be at Kingsway Mall from September 27-28 and Hemingways Mall from October 4-5.
Ernstzen wrested the crown from other competitors with her close attention to strategy given that each contestant had only a fraction of the time they ordinarily would have in their own kitchens, to bring their creations to life without compromising culinary excellence.
Erstzen said her trick to success was to bake her layers to half the usual thickness to ensure the cake bakes fast and takes less time to cool.
She explained: “I was able to assemble my cake at the 15-minute mark with even a few minutes to spare. Managing my time well was so important for me and I don’t think I would’ve been able to complete my cake without it.”
The top 10 judging process was rigorous, with bake-off participants evaluated on various criteria, including taste, texture, creativity, visual appeal, and smell.
The selection process also considered the participants’ business acumen, looking for innovation, creativity, long-term sustainability, alignment with business goals, and potential impact.
Each participant had to present a cake baked from scratch and a pre-baked treat of their choice.
The judges’ scores, combined with these criteria, determined the winners.
Ernstzen said she is proud above all to be recorded as the first ever winner.
She said: “This was my very first baking competition that I have ever entered and the first one I have ever won.
“My initial thought was wow there are so many talented bakers I am competing against, and my nerves were through the roof so when I won, I couldn’t believe I had made it.
“At my age winning a competition like this is so unbelievably rewarding. I am still young and have many things lying ahead.”
She added; “I wasn’t sure what avenue to pursue to grow my business, and I didn’t have the funds to market and advertise, until now. I would like to thank Snowflake so much for this amazing opportunity.”
In second place, Tayla de Coning, 23, from Nahoon was awarded R15000, a business toolkit worth R30000, and Snowflake stock.
De Coning said: “I was stoked and emotional to place runner up.
“I didn’t have much of a strategy outside of just putting my head down in the beginning to get the cake in the oven so it would cool in time to decorate, and not let the clock bother me.
“I also reminded myself to have fun.
“Finishing in the top three has really boosted my confidence for my career,” De Coning said.
“Baking was a lockdown hobby for me in 2020 that then turned into my career. It’s just the beginning and I’m super excited for the years to come,” she said.
Third place went to Desiree Ryding from Sunrise on Sea, who received R10000, a business toolkit worth R30000, and Snowflake stock.
The Snowflake Rising Stars competition is part of Premier FMCG’s commitment to nurturing local talent and communities.
Premier, as the brand owner of Snowflake, is dedicated to supporting local talent by providing opportunities and resources that help bakers turn their passion into thriving businesses.
In a press release by Snowflake the marketing executive at Premier FMCG Sibongile Mooko said: “Supporting local talent is at the heart of what we do.”
