Pissouri men don aprons for charity bake-off

By Bejay Browne

SIXTEEN men living in Pissouri donned aprons and took part in a charity bake-off, raising funds for the Cyprus Kidney Association (Expats).

The event was organised by Pissouri resident Janne Stoten who drew up a strict set of rules for the would-be bakers. Of the 16 men vying for the title, 12 admitted to being baking novices.

“Although the male participants were allowed to ask for advice, no readymade cake mixes were permitted and they had to bake without any physical assistance and no cheating was allowed,” a strict Stoten said.

The event was originally planned as a bring-and-buy cake sale held at Stoten’s house a few days ago. But adding a gentlemen’s challenge to bake for charity the evening before, saw the community come together and have fun, she said. Her husband Paul Stoten also took part.

The event raised €1,000 which will go towards the second dialysis machine for the Paphos General Hospital’s renal unit. It comes with a hefty €25,000 price tag. The unit is in urgent need of more dialysis machines to keep up with the demand, as many patients are reliant on the treatment, without which they would die.

The panel consisted of Graham Brown, Chairman of the Cyprus Kidney Association (Expats) who also receives regular dialysis treatment at the Paphos unit, George Sofocleous, owner and chef at the Hill View Hotel in Pissouri, Pam Oliver, whose husband relied on regular dialysis but died in March and cake lover, Jane Williams.

“The turnout was fantastic and easily beat the two previous charity events that I have hosted,” Stoten said.

Novice baker Craig Robertson took first prize – a bottle of bubbly with a Hummingbird (tropical fruit and crushed pecan) cake, presented at an event held at the Platea Tavern in Pissouri village square. Dave Pointon came second with ‘Nowhere like Pissouri’ pool Victoria sponge cake which was donated to a local Paphos school. Dave Eyre took third place with a carrot cake, decorated with caramel and handmade baby iced carrots.

The novice winner was Jon Boulton, who won a bottle of bubbly for his ‘Pink Pigs in a Chocolate Hot Tub’ cake.

Kevin Turnbull’s cake titled ‘Frothy Lady Chocolate and Guinness cake’ was auctioned to raise further funds.

In addition, female baker Anne Wright created two kidney shaped sponges depicting the kidney association logo. The cake was given to the renal unit at Paphos general.