KEEN cake-maker Kerry Edwards will be glued to the TV tonight for the opening episode of a new series of the Great British Bake Off.
She has more than a passing interest in the series this year as her pal and fellow baker Jordan Cox is one of the contestants.
"I've always been a massive fan of the Bake-Off – I recap each episode on my blog and get so excited for the contestants.
"I am in awe that Jordan is on it – he really got to meet Paul and Mary!
"Normally I develop favourites as the season develops, but I think this year I'll have to admit that I'm biased from the start," says Kerry, who is backing #TeamJordan all the way.
Kerry, of Beeston, came to know Jordan through Nottingham's secret cake club, Cake Eaters Anonymous, and earlier this year she and other members were filmed for a segment of the show.
Kerry, who is president of Nottingham WI and works as a marketing officer for Nottingham City Council, blogs about her baking creations at Kerrycooks.com.
She says: "I love living in Nottingham and discovering new places to eat in our fair city. If you find any great pizza or cake in the city, please tweet me @kerrycooksblog and let me know!"
Favourite restaurant in Notts and why?
It's more of a café but I can't sing the praises of the Hungry Pumpkin in the Lace Market enough! The food is absolutely excellent and brilliant value, the staff are lovely and it's all local and done with care. Plus they're open at the weekends for brunch.
Best for a romantic meal in Notts?
Café Roya in Beeston is lovely and really intimate – and the food is amazing. It's the perfect place to linger over candlelight with a bottle of wine.
A good restaurant to have a laugh with friends?
Definitely The Malt Cross – such a lovely chilled out place to hang out with friends. I can't wait until it re-opens in October.
Best for children?
I visited Sobar recently and noticed how great that would be to take kids – there's plenty of room, plus they've got kids' toys and board games. I really like the alcohol-free concept.
Best pub grub in Notts?
For traditional pub grub, Admiral Rodney in Wollaton can't be beaten. For something more original and interesting – always The Victoria in Beeston. Their food is just amazing.
Favourite takeaway food?
It has to be pizza. Ideally I'd love Dough Boys, Pizza Pilgrims or Franco Manca to open branches in Beeston, failing that, I'll go with Domino's. Or I'll often make pizza at home with homemade pizza dough – it's really easy.
Live to eat or eat to live?
I am definitely more on the live to eat side. I'm always trying to cram as much flavour as possible into my meals, and when I have a sweet treat it has to be really amazing. Otherwise, it's just not worth the amount of calories. The Slutty Brownies I made recently were definitely worth eating!
If I had to recommend a restaurant to a really fussy eater I would suggest….
Hmm. Petit Paris in Nottingham is great and their menu is very extensive.
Most memorable meal, anywhere, and why?
Wandering the streets of Rome near the Spanish Steps looking for a restaurant in the guide book. We couldn't find the place so we chose somewhere at random. I had the most amazing pizza of my entire life. It was just buffalo mozzarella, ripe tomatoes and basil, but I don't think I've ever tasted anything so good!
Hungry and needing food quickly, I'm most likely to....
Grab some nuts, or a Babybel. They're a surprisingly good thing to have on hand to fight off hunger before dinner – plus you get a good bit of protein.
Fondest childhood memory of food?
Baking chocolate cakes, biscuits and Rice Krispies' cakes with my mum. She let me lick the bowl – yes! The best people always lick the bowl.
And the worst?
A bout of sickness at uni which coincided with eating some tiramisu. I couldn't face tiramisu for quite a long time after, but I've now bravely conquered that phobia!
What do you enjoy cooking at home?
I like to cook generally, but I really love to bake, especially when things turn out better than I could have hoped. My rainbow cake is a great example – you cut into the white frosting and see the six vivid and colourful rainbow layers – I get so excited every time that it's worked.
Cookery book…or make it up as you go along?
I tend to liberally adapt what's in the cookery book, even with baking which is a little worrying as baking is supposed to be an exact science.
Favourite celebrity chef and why?
Nigella, of course. Her cinnamon buns from How To Be a Domestic Goddess are worthy of adoration all by themselves. I have a version stuffed with Nutella on my blog.
The food I would never touch is...
Meat. I stopped eating it when I was about 12. I don't judge others if they do, but I do think the whole system needs addressing. Humans can't carry on consuming the quantities of meat that we do, it's bad for our health and bad for the planet. But everyone can make a start by just incorporating more meat-free days and ensuring the meat that they do buy is of good quality – you're also less likely to be buying into cruelty that way.
The best comfort food?
Old-fashioned chocolate cake with chocolate icing.
To me the most important thing about food is (provenance, taste, food miles, ethics, organic, cost, British?)
The taste has to be the most important thing – that should always come first.
Which four famous people, dead or alive, would be your ideal dinner guests?
Nigella, Margaret Atwood, Caitlin Moran and my husband.
My last meal would be....
A truly great pizza followed by a delicious homemade gooey chocolate brownie topped with good vanilla ice cream.
