Teen scores sweet placing at national bake-off

Greater Sudbury's Shaniah Stevens went up against Canada's best young bakers in the elite, high-stakes Skills Canada Pastry Arts National Competition on May 28-29 at Prairieland Park, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

She may not have won the event, but she certainly distinguished herself as one of Canada's best young bakers.

In order to join the 500 students and apprentices scaling up their talents in 40 disciplines across six industry sectors in front of spectators and rigid judges, students must compete in provincial or territorial championships first.

Shaniah Stevens filled out this requirement last January when her sweet display won Holland College's PEI Pastry Arts Skill Competition.

“That was my first competition, it went pretty great,” Stevens said.

It might have been her first competition, but she was by no means inexperienced in the culinary arts.

“I have been working at Frosted Bakery in Val Caron for three years, mostly decorating cakes for events like weddings and birthdays,” she told NorthernLife.ca. “I want to thank the bakery's owner, Ginette, for guiding my passion.”

The 19-year-old Hanmer native went up against six other pastry pros over a course of two days in the four-category Saskatoon competition, placing fourth.

“I do not think I was prepared enough,” she said.

The competition was divided into four categories: Marzipan Figures, Two Types of Chocolate, French Pastry and Mousse Cake with Secret Ingredients.

The Lockerby Composite Secondary School graduate is looking forward to applying her hard-earned skills in her career — because ultimately, baking is in her future, she said.

“I want to open my own bakery with a cafe in front within the next five or 10 years ... hopefully five,” she said.

The Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) is the only national, multi-trade and technology competition for students and apprentices in the country.

Its judges use industry standards to evaluate the competitors in the Olympic-style event.