The much anticipated cake decorating contest in Iloilo City once again has thrilled Ilonggos young and old last Friday, Sept. 23. Now on it's 2nd year, the Tinapayan Chocolate Cake Decorating contest highlights and opens up the bakeshop's annual month long Chocolate Festival which starts Monday, Sept. 26.
Participated in by seven schools, a total of 10 eye catching chocolate cake designs were created under the theme "Chinese New Year" that made the audience saw a lot of dragons, characters and other accents that are of Chinese origin. Using plain chocolate cakes as base provided by Tinapayan, each was then transformed into beautiful and yummy works of art that one would regret eating them.
The winning entry was from Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus which got a nickname "MOA Cake" since the the most visible topping was likened to the globe fronting the Mall of Asia. A simple and neatly done chocolate cake with more circles on the sides plus a fierce looking dragon that might have been one of the reasons (plus the ball maybe) why it eventually won. But come to think of it, just like most of the entries, all the trimmings and decorations were already made prior the contest proper and all they had to do was to make the base good enough then just assemble the decor. Some schools got this right while others obviously didn't. This actually had a twin cake and just the decorations and what's on the side differed.
A last minute entry, I heard, and this design was thought of in just 10 minutes and with no practice at all. Fresh from their recent victory in the National Food Showdown in Manila, the St. Therese College, team once again placed second in a hometown contest just like last year (2nd and 3rd place to an unworthy winner - I can't help but add this LOL). With a fondant base, the design is reminiscent of it's 2nd place cake and it sort of also mimicked last years winner by placing a lot of the sponsor chocolate - Tulip, though these were more well crafted and designed. But the it's the dragon heads I am particular about, made with pure white chocolate, the very detailed work from the teeth to the spikes up to the scales, are truly works of art.
Surprisingly a school noted for it's maritime course and program would do well in a contest out of their league. John B. Lacson Maritime Foundation University's entry garnered third place as they presented another dragon inspired design though it looked funny. Reminiscent of the peacock entry last year, this orange dragon is made with fondant circling around and chasing the traditional "ball". It only lacks music and you'll swear it came out from a Dragon dance once sees and hear during the Chinese New Year. The dragon looked heavy and not as well crafted as the first two, but the over all cake pleasing to look in general and I think the marble chocolate trimmings on the side may have earned them extra points too.
Here's the twin cake I was talking about coming also from Sagrado. The base cake is very familiar but the sides and decorations are miles apart. Actually I like this one better than the winner because it has more life with these fishes - awesomely made I may add. The chocolate sidings provide a good contrast to the heavy toppings (it reminds me of the winning cake last year also having the same sides, just terribly made.) Also having the signature MOA ball plus a very delicate chocolate ribbon that could have earned them extra points on both the usage of Tulip and difficulty. I think the downfall of this cake could have been the fact that there is already a similar one and had a dragon which is a more popular symbol of Chinese New Year.
One of the more eye catching because of its height and among the ones which got curious stares. Until now, I can't seem to relate the mask to the Chinese New Year. Is it for the traditional Chinese opera or something? But the first thing that comes to mind is the Carnivale held in Venice, Italy and I sort of laughed out loud when I heard someone mentioned the Masskara Festival which indeed could have been the inspiration too. All in all the cake is well made, from the simple base to the nicely crafted Chinese characters and things underneath it. 
Last year's winner, West Visayas State University, may only have placed 6th this year but this cake is a lot better than their winning entry last year. Just a simple design but better crafted makes an appealing cake. Though nothing much really on the Chinese New year theme and I dont know what those characters mean. I can only assume the green plants are bamboos as they are often associated with the Chinese. What if instead of the green bamboo design, they etched a lot of Chinese characters giving the cake base a sort of lace design from afar but upon closer inspection one could have read his horoscope - in Chinese of course.
Another twin and it could also come from the same school. I am almost 99 percent sure since they have the same flowery base design, fruits and things below the hook and some characters too. Their base design is much better though since it has the random feel yet making a design. They can't seem to get over with flowers that it reaches the top making it look like a (gay) octopus tentacle that at any moment can grab your around the neck and choke you to death LOL.
This cake reminds me of the Disney animated movie, Mulan and this yellow dragon is Mushu? (did I get it right). The scene would be inside the dead ancestors for the chocolate squares with Chinese characters remind me no less than tombstones. The brown and yellow combination looks attractive only to be ruined by those pink flowerettes. The dragon (looks silly though) itself I think is the only one which was made during the competition itself and made with icing that at some point it looks like corn on the cob. Good thing this photo takes on the good side since the backside seems to have been tsunamied and yes, I took photos of it too!.
A good concept of cake but poorly executed using the wrong "ingredients". It seemed unfinished since the dragon's body has melted since it was made with sugar like the balls. They should have lessened the white icing and chocolates since it distracts attention from the main design which is the dragon. Maybe the temperature of the mall has risen due to the crowd thus melting the design faster. Hopefully on their own they would try to perfect this design using the correct ingredients and techniques to satisfy themselves of making a wonderful cake.
And finally the cake which I automatically vote as the worst and incidentally comes from my Alma Mater. Everything poorly done from the cake base - whose feet made those?, to the non inspiring and poorly made trimmings and is that a dragon?It looks like a cat ran over by a truck with its entrails scattered on the road LOL. When this cake was being made, from afar it stood out since its mediocrity is overwhelming. Even from the third floor one can see how ugly they have done with the base from the start to the finish. It truly deserves the last place. The bunny on top is a saving grace though and it was only placed on top with literally seconds to go until time is up. And I thought it will actually fall, good thing it didn't. The bunny has a smooth finish and got the good details too. But it was too out of place even though 2011 is the year of the rabbit. The concept was poorly thought of and more poorly executed resulting to product even the makers would never look at it.
All in all, this years Tinapayan Chocolate Cake Decorating Contest was a success with entries much better than last year's. Being thematic, contestants show not only their cake designing skills but also their concept building thus having a more productive output. Hoping for another thematic contest next year, a more challenging one, maybe with moving parts or utilizing only just 1 (one) color of choice.
Also schools should remember that sending participants doesn't end whether they win or lose. The finished product is reflective of the schools related course, if a cake looks delicious and beautifully made, it makes an good impression for the school. It is not always who wins (since there are professionals who judge but they are also guided by criteria) but how they created their masterpieces to the criticizing eyes of the people who may not have the same skills but have opinions that really matter.Video courtesy of GMA TV 6 ILOILO's morning show ARANGKADA