Back to the table: Join the Great Brussels Charity Bake Off 2017

The 4th edition of the charity bake off is off to a flying start this year with superheroes the chosen theme. Organised by the British Chamber of Commerce, keen cooks have until midday on 13 March to sign up for the competition.

For a second year in a row the event will raise money for the non-profit Community Help Service, a 24/7 English-language hotline and mental health centre. Last year, €2,000 was donated to CHS and the chamber’s young professional wing Brussels New Generation is already on target to present the non-profit with €3,000 in 2017.

At the launch event, the teams will be divided into four categories: male superheroes, female superheroes, male supervillain, female supervillain. “The terms superheroes and supervillains are of course open to interpretation and we look forward to seeing what the baking teams will make of them,” says Francesca Loparco, projects & events executive at the chamber.

For bakers seeking inspiration in alternative confections, cupcakes, sweet pies and pastries are also permitted, but “generally bakers go for cakes. I guess that creatively and aesthetically speaking, cakes are more versatile”, says Loparco.

Teams will then have two weeks to come up with their winning good vs evil bakes, which will be presented to professional judges and the general public on 27 March.

The judging panel consists of the following Michelin-starred chefs and pastry chefs: David Martin (La Paix), Alexandre Dionisio (Villa in the Sky), Giovanni Bruno (Senzanome), Salem Sassi (Maison Dandoy), Patrick Aubrion (Antoine Sweets), Nicolas De Cloedt (Humus Botanical Gastronomy), Kenny Bernaerts (Studio Bern), Yannick Van Aeken (Humphrey Restaurant), Pierre Balthazar (The Restaurant), Anaïs Gaudemer (Cokoa), Alex Joseph (Rouge Tomate).

The registration fee for each team is €65.

13 March, 18.30-19.30 Launch event, British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium, 11 Boulevard Bischoffsheim, 1000 Brussels

27 March, 18.00-20.00 Tasting event, ING Marnix, 24 Avenue Marnix, 1000 Brussels