A man who moved to the ACT from Scone NSW won the best plain scone category at the inaugural Canberra Scone-Off at Kippax last weekend.
Paul Chapman said his top secrets for success are regular practice and using lemonade instead of butter or milk.
“I love baking scones,” Mr Chapman said. “It’s a tradition that has been handed down for generations in our family and some of my fondest memories as a child are helping my nana and my mum bake scones in the kitchen.
“Sharing food is a great way to show love, and honour cherished memories. Every family can enjoy this simple, affordable, but delicious treat.”
The Scone-Off was held in conjuction with the monthly Kippax Marketplace run by organisers and volunteers at Kippax Uniting Church in Holt, who hailed it the best marketplace attendance in years.
At one stage, the line for home-made Devonshire Tea (including scones with jam and cream) was 20-deep and the women in the kitchen worked hard to keep baking enough scones to keep up with demand for the three hours of the Scone-Off.
Andrea Butler, founder of the local baker marketplace, Bakesale, was one of the key organisers of this new Canberra community event. As an experienced CWA baking competition judge, she helped guide the celebrity judges: Tara Cheyne MLA, Elizabeth Lee MLA, Peter Cain MLA, and former MLA Gordon Ramsay.
On behalf of the organisers of the inaugural Canberra Scone-Off, Ms Butler thanked “everyone who participated in this baking competition, brought family and friends along for the ride, and worked behind the scenes to help make [the day] a huge success and support the art of baking”.
According to Scone-Off organiser Serina Bird (aka ‘Joyful Frugalista’), “the enthusiasm for baking and eating scones has inspired us to try it all again in about one year. So, stay tuned for more info and please let your family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, and fellow bakers, know how much fun it was!”
Ms Bird said, “People are embracing home baking during the cost-of-living crisis. We saw so much enthusiasm for the humble scone from people of all ages and backgrounds, with many vowing to compete in our scone baking competition again next year.”
One of the purposes of the Canberra Scone-Off was to raise money for charity and attract more people to the monthly Kippax Marketplace and help raise money for the numerous community projects run by the charity Uniting Care Kippax in West Belconnen.
Kippax Marketplace Coordinator Chris Ellis was also one of the Scone-Off organisers, helping ensure the two events complemented each other. “It has really exceeded our expectations, and everyone involved in the markets, including stallholders, are really looking forward to the next Scone-Off.”
“The whole event was a joy to be part of, from the start with an Acknowledgement of Country by Kippax Uniting Church Minister, Karyl Davison. And we were constantly enthralled by our expert MC Lish Fejer, with her passion for baking, good humour, and enthusiasm for audience participation in every aspect of the event, spurring on spontaneous applause and laughter,” said Ms Ellis.
The first, second, and third, place winners in each category are:
PLAIN SCONES: First place – Peter Chapman, Second place – Christine Francis, Third place – Kelly Jutz
SAVOURY SCONES: First place – Marie Wensing, Second place – Emma Wensing, Third place – Krystle Vincencio
PUMPKIN SCONES: First place – Julie McCarron-Benson, Second place – Serina Bird, Third place – Kelly Jutz
DATE SCONES: First place – Stephanie Roe, Second place – Serina Bird, Third place – Frances Summers
‘OTHER’ SCONES: First place – Emma Wensing (raspberry and white chocolate), Second place – Serina Bird (pineapple), Third place – Liz Murphy (raspberry)
JUNIOR SCONES: First place – Mikey Roe, Second place – Kobe Ayres, Third place – Oliver Miller, Highly commended – Milly Fletcher, Delilah Collins, Teo Ayres, Huxley Ayres
Scone-Off organiser Elias Hallaj (aka CBRfoodie on Twitter/X) also thanked the numerous local businesses that provided vouchers as prizes to the scone bakers.
“We really appreciate their support and couldn’t have done it without them, so thank you Bakesale, Pinot & Picasso Belconnen, Canberra Labor Club Group, BZBurgers and Coffee House, Sculptures Hair Salon, Mama Ria’s Takeaway Kippax, Ichi Cafe Kippax Fair, Hungry Brown Cow in Holt, Pizza Hut Kippax, and LJ Hooker Kippax,” said Mr Hallaj.
“If any other Canberra businesses want to get involved in the next Scone-Off, please get in touch. We’ll keep the Canberra Scone-Off Facebook page active, and you can also contact Serina (Joyful Frugalista) and Andrea (Bakesale) through their usual channels, Chris through Kippax Marketplace, and me at CBRfoodie. We can almost guarantee the next Canberra Scone-Off will be bigger and better,” he said.
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