Ukulele playing Gemma’s cake mezze is just the job
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Gemma Staple from Spaxton has secured herself a place on the catering team at the new restaurant at Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre thanks to her mini cake mezze.
The 18-year-old, who was an apprentice at Taunton’s Castle Hotel, is the new Junior Pastry Chef at the garden centre and her display idea was the icing on the cake.
Denis Guillemin, Restaurant Operations Manager at the family-run, award-winning, independent garden centre at Monkton Heathfield near Taunton, said: “Gemma interviewed very well and showed exceptional knowledge and skill, but her ability to create these lovely little cakes, as well as lots of other pastries has really impressed us.”
Gemma, who is a ukulele player in her spare time and will be performing at Bridgwater Arts Centre on December 4, previously worked as a pastry chef at County Stores in Taunton.
The former Somerset College student said: “I’m in charge of baking all the scones and cakes and most of the tray bakes for the garden centre’s new Elm Tree Restaurant but between Denis and I we have also developed the mini cake mezze idea and it has now been put on sale for customers to buy. I’m very proud of my creations and love it when diners give me compliments about them.
“We decided to create the mezze so that customers could sample lots of different cakes at an affordable price and so far they have been selling very well. The mezzes include hazelnut brownies, cupcakes, flapjacks, strawberry meringues and Bakewell tarts. We sell five different ones for £1.50.”
Gemma, who was a pupil at Haygrove School in Bridgwater, has a level two in professional cookery and her favourite cake to make is a Morello cherry and chocolate brownie.
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