The 34-year-old Alli Ramsay grew up in Fairland and now resides in Santiago, Chile, was recently announced as the winner of Bake Off Chile.
The Bake-Off Chile is a baking competition that puts 12 amateur bakers over the course of 10 weeks, the contestants are judged on their skills at making cakes and mouth-watering pastries.
Ramsay has been living in Santiago, Chile for about seven years now. She attended Cliffview Primary School, Northcliff High School and got her BA in Marketing Communications from the University of Johannesburg and has completed various courses through the University of Cape Town and the Cape Wine Academy.
She said a friend sent her an entry form urging her to enter the competition. She decided to finally enter as she is an avid fan of the Great British Bake Off.
“I had nothing to lose. I honestly did not expect to get a callback and was surprised to make it to each following stage of the gruelling casting process until finally I was awarded a place in the top 12, into the tent. There I set my goal to make it to the final four,” said Ramsay.
Ramsay recently resigned from her job as a political secretary at the South African Embassy in Chile, following her win in the competition to pursue baking and pastry full time.
She is now planning to join La Roja Dulce, Chile’s national pastry team, who invited her for an apprenticeship for the month of December as they prepare for the Pastry World Cup taking place in Lyon, France in January.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from South America’s best pastry chef, Gustavo Saez, who was a judge on Bake Off Chile, and for whom I have the utmost respect.
“I believe that this opportunity will open new doors, so I will see where that leads me, hopefully, a publishing deal to write a recipe book or two but I am certain that I have a long and happy career ahead in the field of pastry.”
Lastly, Ramsay said she was elated about the win adding that it was not an easy feat as the tent had really great competition and everyone there worked very hard and was very focused to get to the top. She said her favourite dish she made in the competition was on Fried Dough week where she made koeksisters.
“They were an absolute triumph and certainly one of the most memorable of Season 1 of Bake Off Chile in general. People in the streets ask me for that recipe now but I’m saving it for my book.”
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