Georges Hall chef part of first Australian team to compete in World Trophy of Pastry in Italy

By Danielle Buckley, Canterbury-Bankstown Express go to Daily Telegraph
August 28, 2017 3:43pm

Life is sweet for Frankie Ferrante, especially after being asked to represent Australia in the crème-de-la-crème of dessert contests. The 21-year-old Georges Hall resident will travel to Milan in October, to compete at the World Trophy of Pastry Ice Cream Chocolate. The prestigious competition is held every two years and for the first time ever, Australia will have a team to put forward. Joining Ferrante will be Georgia Clisdell, 20, and Lucy Powell, 20, and their coach Luigi Stivaletta.

Mr Ferrante has been doing some 3.30am starts for training. Picture: Jane Dempster

“We’re the underdogs in the competition in every way,” Ferrante, 21, said.

“It’s Australia’s first time competing and we are the youngest team in the competition.

“But we’re aiming high — hopefully we’ll smash it.”

Ferrante, 21, is a chef de partie at the famous two-hatted Icebergs restaurant at Bondi Beach. He got a taste for baking after watching his Greek mamma in the kitchen and said he couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

“It’s that feeling you get when people look at your dessert and they are stunned as to how you did that. When you see that look on their face, that’s why I love it.”

The Australian team has been training, with some 3.30am starts, at their sponsor Euroquip’s 24-hour kitchen in Padstow. The competition involves 16 teams from across the world in three disciplines: sugar, chocolate and pastillage sculpture.

“We’re doing our best to include Australian flora and fauna which makes it a bit difficult but so far it’s looking amazing,” Ferrante said.

“I think we’re doing Australia proud with our work.”

And the secret to a good pastry?

“It’s the heart behind it,” Ferrante said.

“Anyone can follow a recipe but it takes a lot of passion that each person brings to make it work.”

The World Trophy of Pastry Ice Cream Chocolate will be held in Italy from October 21-22.

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Commercial catering equipment like baking ovens, commercial refrigeration and chocolate machines have been  supplied by Euroquip official sponsor of Team Pastry Australia