TORONTO — Emma Kilgannon, a recent graduate of Humber College’s Baking and Pastry Arts Management program, claimed the top spot in the Pâtisserie and Confectionery division at the Skills Canada National Competition in Vancouver.
The theme for the competition was the Roaring ’20s, and Kilgannon was tasked with creating a number of confections, including a two-tier cake with a marzipan figurine, a pair of layer cakes with dacquoise, six plated desserts, six petit fours, 20 chocolate bon bons and 20 dairy-free chocolate bon bons — all in just three days. Her most memorable creation was a chocolate-sculpted gramophone, which she qualified for after finishing first in the Baking division at the 2022 Virtual Skills Ontario Competition. She had trained with Sergio Shidomi, a former Humber instructor who agreed to mentor her.
“When they called my name, I was so excited,” says Kilgannon. “I honestly couldn’t believe it. I truly wasn’t expecting to finish first when I entered, although I was confident in my abilities and what I could create. I owe a big thank you to Sergio for his work training me on chocolate skills, plus all my other professors at Humber. If I hadn’t done the amount of training I did, I wouldn’t have been prepared to compete at that level.” “All of the chefs who have taught Emma have praised her work ethic and talent,” says Susan Joseph, Baking & Pastry Arts Management program coordinator. “Emma has demonstrated self-discipline and determination, and this has allowed her to excel in competition and win.”
