Contributed by Copthorne Palmerston North Executive Chef, Mr Jono Mawley.

Copthorne Palmerston North took part in the Kind Hearts Movement Charity Cake Auction for the first time this July. The bake-off saw thirty-two businesses and organisations in the Manawatu district in New Zealand create innovative cakes and parade them in a “cake walk” for an auction.

My creation was a three tiered cake themed Alice in Wonderland. The three layers were made of chocolate, vanilla sponge and banana cakes, and layered with vanilla cream and topped with fondant. The entire cake was also edible! (With the exception of some toothpicks, a ribbon, and a peacock feather.)

The cake was “cake-walked” down the catwalk by two from our fantastic team, Front Office Receptionist Ms Zara Murrihy and Food & Beverage Duty Manager Ms Nikki Walker. They were dressed as the Mad Hatter and Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, and were accompanied by my daughter Ava, who was dressed as Alice.

The team is proud to announce that we came in second, and helped the Kind Hearts Organisation raise NZ$410 from the auction of the cake. The judging was done by a panel of industry professionals, and cakes were judged on presentation of cakes and showmanship during the “cake walk”. The whole auction raised NZ$7,500 for the charity.

Well done to the team!