Six ladies and one gentleman, all proud owners of newly purchased food appliances from the Bosch Styline range, had a sweet cookoff in a reality TV-style competition at the Bosch Culinary Studio at Tools of the Trade (ToTT) on Saturday, 10th December 2011.

The competition, organised by BSH Home Appliances Pte Ltd, distributor of Bosch and Gaggenau home appliances in Singapore, was part of the promotional campaign to introduce the new range of Styline food preparation appliances in Singapore. Bosch customers who had purchased the MUM 8 and MUM 5 range of kitchen machines, as well as the MCM 4 food processors, were eligible to participate in the original recipe competition. Ten contestants with the top entries were then selected and invited to participate in the cooking competition. These creative individuals were also awarded full cash back on the purchase of their appliances from the range.

During the competition, the contestants were given two hours to prepare their original dessert recipe. Adorned in their Bosch toques and aprons and armed with their MUM 5 or MUM 8 Kitchen Machine, the seven contenders were focused in their task to re-create their recipes live in the hopes of impressing the judges with the presence and moral support of their friends and family members.

On the judging panel were trade partners from Best Denki, Courts and Harvey Norman; members of the media – food writer and consultant, Mr Christopher Tan and founder of leading food blogsite, Camemberu.com, Ms Catherine Ling; a food consultant and lifestyle chef from Culinary Adventures, Ms Irene Jansen who also played host and moderator to the competition.

Sweet Creations
A variety of desserts were prepared at the competition, showcasing the versatility of the MUM Kitchen Machines. All the desserts received praise from the judges, scoring with their individual attributes.

Contestant Susan Chan’s Banana Cake entry surprised judges. Judge Catherine Ling remarked, “Although simple, the banana cake was one of the most delicious entries. It was perfectly balanced in taste and aroma with just the right sweetness. The cake was moist, soft and fluffy, with a thin and crispy crust”.  

On the other hand, contestant Elizabeth Choy won over the judges with her warmth and enthusiasm. An avid baker who regularly prepares birthday cakes, Elizabeth shared that love was her secret ingredient for all her creations, including her unique entry of Sop with Jack Mousse Cake (soursop and jackfruit). Commenting on her MUM 5 Kitchen Machine, Elizabeth said, “It is really so easy to use and it has cut down my food preparation time by half. I can make almost anything with this handy machine”.

The youngest female contestant, Karen Lum, 32, impressed judges with her composure and presentation skills. Her dessert creation, Hokkaido Sweet Potato Steamed Cake, was topped with cream cheese frosting and adorned with pretty flowers and ribbons.

The remaining entries for the competition included contestant Diana Beins‘ interesting combination of Banana Topcake with Cheese; contestant Jane Kan’s assemble of Orange Chocolate Cupcakes presented in a tiered Christmas-tree like display and contestant Florence Seow’s Peach Cheesecake.

And the Winner is...

And chances would have had it, the lone male contender, Fahizal Bin Maziland, emerged champion with his winning entry: Chocolate Raisin My Favourite Tart.

“My dessert for today was inspired by my daughter’s two favourite ingredients – chocolates and raisins,” said the father of two young children who works as an Operations Manager in a cafe.

Commenting on his exceptional dessert creation, judge and moderator, Irene Jansen said, “The rich and decadent flavours of his tart was a real treat and it looked very professionally made. Most importantly, Fahizal cooked with love, with is the very essence of cooking and what makes each dish special”.

Fahizal walked away with the grand prize of a Bosch Classic Bordeaux Refrigerator valued at S$2,299.

Mr Gary Ong, Director of Consumer Products Asia for BSH Home Appliances Pte Ltd, presented all the contestants with cheques for the reimbursement of their purchases. He said, “We are truly amazed at the level of competency displayed today.

Our judges were impressed with the recipes created and the dedication put in. We believe our contestants have inspired others around them to not only create winning recipes  but to just cook for their friends and family. Most importantly, everyone had fun, and that is really what cooking is about – bringing people together”.

The Bosch Original Recipe contest concluded on a happy note with a song and recipe demonstration on Hot Chocolate by Irene Jansen. The recipes from the contestants will be compiled into the Bosch Original Recipe Book which will published in the first quarter of 2012.

The contestants end on a happy note with winner Fahizal "on top of the world" at the Bosch Original Recipe Competition