PENOLA baking sensation Ian Tregenza has gone viral after his win in the Blokes’ Chocolate Cake Competition at the recent Penola Show.
A builder by trade, Mr Tregenza had never before entered the competitive cooking circuit, but managed to impress the judges with his cake creation, claiming first place.
Mr Tregenza was one of several Penola Men’s Shed members who decided to compete for the prize money.
“We saw the poster and thought it might be a good way to win some money for our new shed,” he said.
“I really did not think I would win though – I have never baked anything in my life.”
Although a baking rookie, culinary talent does run in the family with his mother, grandfather and uncle all talented bakers.
Mr Tregenza’s wife, Judy, was onside to make sure he was doing everything correctly, but eventually had to walk away when he began icing his creation.
“She was putting her two cents in to make sure I did not mess it up,” he joked.
“When I started icing she mostly just kept telling me I was doing it wrong and suggested I would be better using a trowel to ice it like in my building days.”
As a steward in the show’s vegetable section, Mr Tregenza did not think about his cake after he entered it in the competition.
When the winner was announced, Mr Tregenza was standing at the other end of the hall and did not hear the result.
“We were standing up the back not really paying attention,” Ms Tregenza said.
“All of a sudden people were looking for this Ian Tregenza fellow and we realised he had won.”
Mr Tregenza said it was a bit of a shock to win, but he was proud to donate his winnings to the men’s shed and he even baked another cake for their next meeting.
“I put the $200 straight into the kitty after winning,” he said.
“It was a bit of fun and I think I might have a bit of a knack for it.”
This year’s event boasted a record 77 competitors, an increase of 71 from last year, with the impressive feat shared on social media and attracting thousands of interactions.
Limestone Coast author Liz Harfull shared the post on Facebook with people from across the country commenting and sharing the post.
Competitor Robert Kuhl even announced when he was looking for his ingredients, he asked the staff at Penola IGA Fresh which aisle the melted butter was in.
The post even managed to reach Mr Tregenza’s grandchildren in Sydney and Brisbane, which came as a bit of a surprise to him.
“I had a phone call from one of my granddaughters congratulating me on winning,” he said.
“She explained to me she saw a post on Facebook about it, which was pretty amazing.
“I spoke to my other granddaughter in Brisbane and she told me she had already seen that I had won – it’s a little embarrassing to have gone viral, but I guess it’s a great thing for Penola.”
Event organisers are hoping for an even bigger competition next year and Mr Tregenza has already pledged to enter again.
