RALEIGH, N.C. — Vacations at the beach, old movies, and Kermit the Frog were some of the “Childhood Memories” on display at the Raleigh Convention Center. Nearly 2,000 people attended Wake Tech’s Annual Pastry Show and Culinary Salon. The event brings together culinary students and professional chefs from across North Carolina to compete for medals and cash prizes. Sponsors included US Food Service, Credit Suisse, and some of the Triangle’s top restaurants and caterers.

The highlight of the show was a live, two-hour cake decorating challenge in which six two-person teams designed cakes with the theme of “Childhood Memories.” Jennifer Nichols and Tracy Lurey, professional bakers from Burlington, won first place with a cake showing scenes from their favorite family holidays. Second place went to Susan Hearns and Stephanie Charns, two students at Alamance Community College; their cake featured a photo album and old-fashioned records. Third place – and the People’s Choice Award – went to Courtney and Jill Leckey, identical twin sisters who created a colorful Kermit cake. The sisters have their own business, and Courtney also works as a baking instructor at Wake Tech. Every team took home a gift of baking supplies, courtesy of US Food Service, and the winning teams received cash awards. The cakes were auctioned off at the end of the competition, with proceeds going to the Wake Tech Culinary Arts Fund.