Jake wins annual pavlova competition

When it comes to creating an award-winning pavlova, five-year-old Jake Gibson says you've got to put your heart into your cooking.

"That's the secret. You've got to like what you do."

Jake won the children's section of Nosh Food Market's annual pavlova competition at the Mount Maunganui store this week.

Judges described his creation as "near perfect" and said it was an impressive feat for a child.

"I call it a pudding cake ... and I like making it," Jake told the Bay of Plenty Times.

With assistance from his mum, Kym Gibson, Jake does most of the work when it comes to baking.

"I only measure out the ingredients, Jake puts it all together. He loves being in the kitchen and he's done a lot of the work [creating the pavlova] that's for sure," Mrs Gibson said.

As well as pavlova, Jake said he was an expert at cooking breakfasts and other things.

"I can cook creamy mushrooms, chicken nuggets and schnitzel [which he crumbs] and pancakes."

Jake's pavlova was one of five entries in the children's section of the competition.

One of the judges, Tauranga chef Peter Blakeway, said Jake's cake was "simply stunning".

The other judges were Jo Blennerhassett from Nosh and Annemarie Quill from indulge magazine.

The competition generated 14 entries across three categories - child, adult and alternate, which saw entries go beyond the traditional pavlova recipe.

The winner of the adult competition was Monique Etherington and the winner of the alternate section was Ani de Koster.

Mr Blakeway said it was encouraging to see children learning to cook alongside their parents.