Finishing Touches is a competition organised by LACA in association with the Craft Guild of Chefs. The competition is aimed at staff employed in any aspect of education catering capable of producing craft pieces.

The competition provides entrants with the opportunity to show off their skills, which would not normally be seen during their everyday profession. Each Best in Class winner received £100 and the Best in Show winner won a further £250.

There were over 70 entries for Finishing Touches for the 2024 salon culinaire. The seven Finishing Touches judges collectively decided that Lisa was the worthy winner of Best in Show for her Decorated Celebration Cake. Lisa was also named as the Best in Show winner in 2019.

Katherine Bridge from HCL Ltd won Best in Class for 50% Fruit Dessert and Cakes Suitable for a Special Diet. Erin Ward from Impact Food Group won two categories including Decorated Novelty Cake and Vegetarian Quiche. Joana Gaspar from Taylor Shaw emerged victorious in the Cheesecake and Individual Fruit Tart categories. For the third year in a row Rachel Kirk from Taylor Shaw won the Floral Sugarcraft Display Piece.

Steve Munkley, vice president of the Craft Guild of Chefs and director for Finishing Touches Salon, said: “I just get blown away by the talent that is in the industry. They have just got some amazing talents and today we have had over 70 entries which is really getting us back to the levels that we had pre-Covid. They have put some amazing work out today which myself and my judges have been looking at very carefully. It has been an amazing day. They have done some fabulous work.”

Finishing Touches 2024 winners:

• 50% Fruit Dessert: Katherine Bridge – HCL Ltd
• Biscuits: Cheryl Buie - South Tyneside Council
• Cakes Suitable for a Special Diet: Katherine Bridge - HCL Ltd
• Cheesecake: Joana Gaspar - Taylor Shaw
• Cupcakes: Josephine Austin - Twelve15
• Decorated Celebration Cake: Lisa Miles - HCL Ltd
• Decorated Novelty Cake: Erin Ward - Impact Food Group
• Filled and/or Covered Sponge, Gateau or Cake: Jean Potter – HCL Ltd
• Floral Sugarcraft Display Piece: Rachel Kirk - Taylor Shaw         
• Individual Fruit Tart: Joana Gaspar - Taylor Shaw        
• Tray Bake: Mark Kent - Impact Food Group
• Vegetarian Quiche: Erin Ward - Impact Food Group