Judy Lan hasn’t yet celebrated her 21st birthday, but she’s already a national baking champion.
Lan, a NAIT grad who has been with Brio Bakery for the past year, just won the SkillsCanada baking competition — and that means she’ll be competing for Canada at the WorldSkills finals to be held in 2024 in Lyon, France.
Lan practiced for three months before the national finals in Winnipeg, which required her to make three poundcakes, six tarts, a plated dessert and a chocolate showpiece over seven hours of competition. She had previously won a provincial competition held in Edmonton.
“The theme [for the chocolate show piece] was the four seasons, so I had to make something that had flowers and butterflies along the sides. I was surprised [to win] but I wanted to win. I was happy to get what I wanted.”
While Lan had plenty of practice going in, there’s always something that comes up in a competition that throws a wrench in even the best-laid plans. In Winnipeg, it was the hazelnuts.
“Because we had time to practice, I kind of got down my timing, I knew when I had to finish something, and what’s the best timing to get onto the next thing. But there were some things that were not planned, but you still try and get through it. All the hazelnuts had skins on them, so I had to take them off before I could use them.”
When Lan graduated from NAIT last year, she was attracted to Brio for some very solid family reasons.
“My mom likes the cruffins, here. So, I knew this bakery. I applied and I was accepted. I really like baking. I think I’ll do it forever. I really like it here. It’s not a fast-paced environment, but you still have to keep going. Everybody here is friendly.”
