Porirua’s Whittaker’s Bake Off is underway, with 20 chocolate creations competing for votes from local residents until Sunday 18 October.
The competition is part of ChoctoberFest, the annual celebration of chocolate and local hospitality businesses, which runs throughout October.
This year, 29 Porirua cafés, bars and eateries are taking part in the wider festival, creating 44 treats and drinks using chocolate from Porirua-based Whittaker’s.
The festival has two separate competitions. The Whittaker’s Bake Off features 20 cakes, slices and desserts from 1 to 18 October, while Top of the Chocs features 24 chocolate drinks and continues until 31 October.
There is no single Bake Off venue or scheduled tasting session. Customers visit participating businesses during their normal opening hours, purchase the creations they want to try and rate their favourites.
Among this year’s entries is The Ninth Planet ($22) from Gear Homestead in Aotea, a chocolate dessert shaped like a planet, complete with chocolate rings.
The creation features Whittaker’s dark chocolate mud cake, milk chocolate mousse and a salted caramel centre, covered in a glossy dark chocolate glaze.
In central Porirua, Peppermill Café on Norrie Street has entered a Triple Chocolate Basque Burnt Cheesecake ($14).
Made with Whittaker’s dark, milk and white chocolate, the cheesecake is served with raspberry-infused Chantilly cream and a strawberry and raspberry compote.
At the Supply Room in Paremata, Wit’s End ($18) combines a Whittaker’s Creamy Caramel chocolate cheesecake with a molten caramel centre on a dark chocolate brownie base.
Tuk Tuk Thai Kitchen in Hartham Place North has brought Thai flavours to the competition with It’s Guay Guay Time ($19).
Its entry features deep-fried banana wrapped in thin pastry, served with Whittaker’s Banana Caramel chocolate, vanilla ice cream and a traditional coconut caramel sauce from Daeng’s grandmother’s recipe.
Nearby, Top Taste Restaurant on Hagley Street has entered Bavarian Queen’s Killer Cream ($12.90), a Bavarian cream dessert made with Whittaker’s 72% Dark Ghana chocolate and finished with dark chocolate ganache.
These five creations are part of a much wider selection available across Porirua, with participating businesses stretching from Plimmerton and Whitby to Titahi Bay and the city centre.
Customers have a say in the results by voting for the creations they try.
When customers purchase a participating Bake Off dessert, they receive a unique code to enter when completing the online rating survey.
They can then submit their rating through the ChoctoberFest voting form.
Customers who purchase an entry and submit a rating using their code also go into the draw for prizes, including a Whittaker’s factory tour for four people or a chocolate-inspired high tea at Café Kaizen for four.
A separate competition offers 100 Whittaker’s Peanut Slabs to someone who posts a review and photograph of a ChoctoberFest entry in the festival’s Facebook fan group.
The Bake Off closes on Sunday 18 October, but the wider ChoctoberFest celebrations and chocolate drinks competition continue until Saturday 31 October.
The full list of all 20 Bake Off entries, their prices, participating businesses and opening hours is available on the official ChoctoberFest Porirua website.