Winner of The National’s second annual bake-off announced

The National's second annual bake off extravaganza concluded this afternoon, to thunderous applause

Justin Sanak, winner of The National's second annual bake off extravaganza, with editor-in-chief Mohammed Al Otaiba. Photo by Laura Koot

The National's Arts & Life department lost its coveted baking crown today, as it landed on the head of one of the newspaper's production journalists.

There were cakes galore in the newsroom. There were cheers. There were tears.

And then it was all over, as our second annual bake-off extravaganza crowned a new champion – the ever-courteous Justin Sanak, an American journalist who works on our business desk, whose blueberry cheesecake proved impossible to beat.

The rules were simple – any kind of baking was allowed but all the entries had to incorporate blueberries, and only those of us who had tasted all the treats could vote for the winner.

Justin faced stiff competition from news-features editor James Langton’s iced-lemon and blueberry sponge, social media editor Sarah Khamis Al Alawi’s lemon-blueberry pound cake, business editor Robert McKenzie’s raspberry-blueberry tart, assistant editor of production Ross Anderson’s blueberry merengues and the news desk’s Zaineb Al Hassani’s blueberry crumble.

After earning the loudest cheer when it came time for the tasters to vote, Justin was speechless at first (which if you knew him, you would realise was a first) but remained graceful in his victory.

As he put on his victor’s apron and picked up his champion’s whisk, he said he was proud to be part of the baking culture in the newsroom.

“I really do think it was a great competition and hopefully it will make everybody try even harder next year,” he said.

Production editor Kevin McCardle – a renowned office baker and connoisseur of delectable treats – caused an upset when he pulled out of the competition, citing inadequate preparation time due to jet lag after his recent return from a holiday in his home country of Scotland.

He said: “I was sad that I couldn’t participate this time, but next year Justin Sanak had better watch out.”