Cake It Away at BGF Bake Off

Join Claire de Lune, Verushka Darling and Masterchef contestant Kevin Perry as they celebrate BGF Bake Off’s 25th anniversary, writes Serkan Ozturk.

The Bobby Goldsmith Foundation’s notorious Bake Off event will celebrate its Silver Anniversary this Sunday as it returns to Slide for the second year running.

Standing tall amongst all the glamour and food mayhem will be Kevin ‘Big Kev’ Perry who after only recently being ousted as a contestant on television’s Masterchef will swap the kitchen whites for a judge’s hat as he joins chef extraordinaire Marc Kuzma – aka drag queen Claire de Lune – to pick some of the best tasting cakes this side of the gay mile.

“One of my strongest memories of the time when I first arrived from Canada as a humble backpacker travelling Australia was taking part in the BGF Bake Off,” Perry tells SX.

“I made a cheesecake and that was six years ago now and ever since then I’ve been a part of it in some way or another even if it was just to watch and eat!”
Bake Off began in 1987 to raise money for people living with HIV/AIDS. The annual event, which comprises a baking competition and auction, has remained true to that spirit in intervening years, according to BGF CEO David Riddell.

“It remains a community event favourite as it allows anyone to take part regardless of their level of baking skill,” he said.

“Everyone loves a nice bit of cake, and this creates an opportunity to help a really fantastic cause which is supporting people with HIV in NSW to live well.”

All the categories from last year are again up for grabs – Best Cake, Best Cake (Professional), Best Decorated Cake, Best Fete Baking, Best Preserves (Jams and Pickles), Best Tart, Best Cupcake as well as Best Non-Edible Cake.

Drag diva Verushka Darling will again be the day’s hostess while stars from Slide’s regular El’Circo night will also perform for the crowds.

Kuzma, a chef by trade who also operates nearby Claire’s Kitchen at Le Salon, says he hopes to see entrants bake items just as tasty as the famed Mac Mac macarons and Shauna Jensen renowned jams from previous years.

“I’m hoping to see lots of creativity,” Kuzma adds. “With so many popular cooking shows on TV everyone can be a ‘master’ chef.”

And the results of all that shaking and baking are destined to go to a good cause.

“Some of our clients have been with us as long as the organisation has been going, and our youngest client is 18 months old with the oldest being 85 years,” Riddell says.

“Over the next three years BGF is looking to consolidate our existing services like Phoenix Programmes and medical cost support, whilst embracing new strategies that draw upon our strength as the oldest HIV charity in Australia.”

Perry meanwhile says he wouldn’t miss the Bake Off for anything, revealing to SX that despite prior commitments in Melbourne this weekend he will be cutting short his trip to instead make a mad dash from the airport to Slide.

“I’m very thrilled.”

The BGF Bake Off is on at Slide, 41 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst on Sunday, June 3 from 2-6pm. Entry $15 donation. Go to www.bgf.org.au.