MasterChef favourite and Australian baking extraordinaire Kirsten Tibballs has revealed the Western Australian bakeries she must visit during her trip to Perth next weekend for the Good Food & Wine Show. The founder of Savour Chocolate & Patisserie School in Melbourne has been flying west for several years, and makes a point to seek out local people doing big things to learn what inspires them.
WA's Vibrant Bakery Scene
Tibballs hailed WA's vibrant bakery and pastry scene, name-dropping a few crowd-pleasers on her itinerary. "I've already pencilled in a few spots I'd love to visit, including Pelican Croissanterie, Chu Bakery, Teeter Bakery, Miller + Baker, Goods Bakery and Crumbs Patisserie," she told PerthNow. "From everything I've seen, WA has an incredible depth of talent, so I'm excited to experience it firsthand."
Tibballs is an internationally acclaimed patissier and chocolatier with two decades of work behind her. However, she understands every world-class baker started somewhere and offered tips to those not yet confident donning the apron. "My biggest piece of advice is to master the fundamentals first. Understanding your ingredients, learning techniques and precision will set you up for success far more than jumping straight into the most complicated recipe," she said.
Exclusive Dessert for Perth
To witness the whip master at work, Tibballs will be unveiling a dessert created exclusively for Perth. Attendees will see a live demonstration of her rich chocolate cake that has been hollowed out and filled with a caramelised almond custard, then finished with rich chocolate cream, milk chocolate curls, chocolate soil, and caramelised almonds. "I love creating something unique for each event, and this dessert was designed especially for Western Australia, making the Perth Good Food & Wine Show the only place to see it," she said.
New Attractions: Bakers Alley and Cooking School
Tibballs is also excited for the Perth debut of Bakers Alley, which will unite four of the country's finest bakeries. Aunty Lucy's Cakery will be serving cakes and fruit pies, with Do Dough Bakery offering doughnuts, The Sansrival making Filipino cake and scrolls, and The Froyo Bar doing frozen yoghurt. The show's second new addition in the interactive Cooking School invites attendees to cook alongside their favourite celebrity chefs in intimate daily ticketed sessions.
Those seeking out Tibballs's class will learn to create their own chocolate bark using premium Belgian Callebaut milk and dark chocolate topped with Cacao French Macarons, roasted nuts, Maldon Sea Salt, and gain access to techniques she uses as an industry-leading chocolatier.
Other Celebrity Chefs and Event Details
Other big-name culinary figures scheduled to appear at the show include Warren Mendes, Migeul Maestre, Alastair McLeod, Nat Thaipun, and Perth social media sensations Cheat Meats. Past attendees can expect the event's famous spread of wine, spirits, cheese, and gourmet food vendors. Perth's Good Food & Wine Show takes place July 17-19 at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre.
