A SOLIHULL-based pastry chef has made it through to the finals of Britain’s ‘toughest’ baking competition.
Darryl Collins and his sous chef Bharat Chandegra from Resorts World have made it through to the final three of Bake Off: The Professionals on channel four.
The pair went head-to-head against hotels, restaurants and cafes from across the country in the elimination round and despite almost leaving the competition in the first episode they made it into the final six.
Over the past three weeks the teams have been whittled down and the final showdown will be aired on Sunday (July 8).
In the semi-finals the chefs faced a secret recipe challenge, the teams not only didn’t know what they were baking beforehand but in an added twist by the judges, Cherish Finden and Benoit Blin, only one member of the two-strong teams could bake.
The teams then had to bake a three-tier cake while also performing a piece of gourmet theatre known as live plating.
In the final the teams will have to create a banquet for 80 people with four desserts and a towering showpiece before finding out who has been crowned this year’s winners.
Darryl said: “When we first applied for Bake Off, my idea was to put Birmingham on the map for patisserie and inspire the next generation of pastry chefs in the Midlands.
“We’ve been up against some of the best hotels and pastry chefs in the country. But now that we’re through to the final rounds I feel like we’ve got everything to play for.
“I owe a lot to Resorts World, they have allowed me to be creative with my team and have backed us from the opening of the resort to where we are now.”
