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WONDERS never cease for master cake maker/decorator and pastry artist Penk Ching. Who would think that a successful banker with a masters degree in management and a postgraduate degree in economics from Columbia University, will turn her back on a lucrative career to pursue baking cakes and pastries?
Together with an equally talented sister Shen Ratilla, their Pastry Bin elegantly rolls out fondants, butter cream, pulled sugar for sought after breathtakingly beautiful designer cakes? masterpieces that highlight the weddings and parties of the powerful, the rich and famous for the last 20 years. Together, they have published an exquisite coffee table book, ?Caked in Sugar? that chronicles the sisters? metamorphosis from baking addicts to cake artists.
In spite of the esteemed status she enjoys in and out of her cake and pastry world, Penk remains simple and unaffected. I had the privilege of knowing the sought-after pastry master three years ago when she graced the Hotel, Resort & Restaurant Association of Cebu?s ?Cebu Goes Culinary? competition where she has been one of the selected Manila judges for two consecutive events.
Penk?s cup of artistic prowess continues to overflow so it is not surprising to hear about her doing the country proud by reaping awards abroad. With the team of the Pastry Alliance of the Philippines (PAP), which was organized less than a year ago, Penk and her teammates have won noteworthy awards. In May 2009, PAP joined the prestigious Hong Kong International Culinary Classic where Penk won a Bronze medal for her ?Heavenly Tableau,? a Sugar Showpiece. In September of the same year, the PAP team brought home a lion?s share of the coveted pastry awards in the Asia?s 1st Culinary Cup held in Siam Paragon Exhibit Halls in Bangkok, Thailand. This first culinary art contest was participated by culinary professionals from all over the world, bigger and more competitive than the event in Hong Kong. PAP?s six-man delegation led by its president Buddy Trinidad of Park Avenue Desserts refused to be intimated by countries with a big participation.
Penk?s Vases of Luck won the Silver medal for the Freestyle Pastry Show Piece (Display) category. The gorgeous, intricately crafted vases?a black Chinese one ingeniously trapped and rotating within a carved gold vase that had Chinese characters written on it that symbolizes luck, prosperity, longevity and happiness. It certainly proved to be Penk?s lucky charm. Pastry Chef Peachy Juvan of Short Crust College of St. Benilde, won a Bronze medal for her ?Pavo Mehndi? for Dress the Cake (Live) competition. Pastry Chef Pixie Sevilla Santos of Magsaysay Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Arts got a Diploma for her Mango Coconut Cheesecake and Hot Chocolate Chili Mousse for Individual Plated Dessert (Live) competition. The PAP team had three winning contestants out of the four pastry categories.
