THE secret to a prize-winning fruit cake isn’t just the recipe.
According to Country Women’s Association (CWA) cooking judge Vicki Fletcher, it comes down to precision, patience and plenty of practice.
Members of the Coffs Harbour CWA recently gathered for a special cookery workshop where Ms Fletcher, assisted by Cassandra Goodenough, shared the finer points of creating competition-standard boiled fruit puddings, rich fruit cakes and jam sponge rolls.
From ensuring fruit and nuts are cut to a consistent size to the clever use of a simple cardboard collar for an even rise, members picked up practical tips designed to give local bakers an edge when preparing entries for CWA competitions across the state.
Adding an unexpected touch of glamour to the day was a visit from The Velvet Curtain Co., who dropped in to finalise plans for the afternoon tea that the Coffs Harbour CWA will prepare for the company’s upcoming Sunday Speakeasy Matinee at the Coffs Harbour Conservatorium.
For Velvet Curtain Co. co-founder Vanessa Hunter, the partnership is about much more than serving tea.
“For more than a century, the CWA has been quietly bringing people together around kitchen tables, community halls and fundraising events,” she said.
“Their baking represents something much bigger than afternoon tea. It’s hospitality, friendship and community, and we’re incredibly honoured they’ll be sharing that with our audience.”
The Sunday matinee of Secrets, Lies & Alibis combines live music, storytelling and vintage speakeasy glamour with a traditional afternoon tea lovingly prepared by the Coffs Harbour CWA.
“It’s a lovely meeting of two traditions,” Ms Hunter said. “We’ll create the music and atmosphere, while the CWA creates the warmth and welcome that begins long before the curtain rises.”
Featuring a cast of local performers alongside internationally experienced artists who now call the Coffs Coast home, the production combines unexpected classics with contemporary favourites, all reimagined through the atmosphere of a hidden Prohibition-era speakeasy.
Audiences can expect an evening of music, storytelling and a touch of mystery as the venue is transformed into a clandestine club from a bygone era.
Secrets, Lies & Alibis will be presented at the Coffs Harbour Conservatorium on Saturday evening, 22 August, and Sunday afternoon, 23 August, with the CWA-catered afternoon tea included as part of the Sunday Speakeasy Matinee experience.
Tickets are available at www.velvetcurtaincompany.com.
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