Alberton teen among top winners of RSG and Virseker’s Bakgat Rusk competition
The 18 year-old learner from Hoërskool Alberton won second place and got a R10 000 cash prize, having competed against 1 500 bakers in the competition.
Meet Domonique Stander, an 18-year-old Alberton-based baker doing great things in the world of baking.
Domonique was recently crowned among the top winners of the RSG and Virseker’s Bakgat rusk competition.
Domonique was encouraged by her grandfather, Daniel Stander, to enter the competition.
She entered and so did the rest of her family members – Riaan Stander (father), Pennelopy Byleveld (stepmother), and Michka Stander (sister).
Her grandfather passed away on October 6 just before the final stages of the competition. Domonique continued to compete as the youngest entrant among them all.
One thousand five hundred bakers from all over South Africa entered the competition, each sending 24 rusks of biscuit and a fully completed entry form, to enter the competition.
Domonique was among those who sent 24 pieces of rusks and a fully completed entry form. A total of 72 finalists were named, and Domonique was part of the finalists.
The final stages of the competition took place on November 13 and it saw finalists gather at the Auto and General Park in Midrand to compete for the number one spot.
At the finals in Midrand, Domonique’s ‘Death by Chocolate’ rusks impressed the judges and she placed second, along with an R10 000 cash prize. The top five finalists were Heloise Erasmus from Bethal, Petra Groenewald from Springs, Genevieve Cillié from Vereeniging, Marthlé Smith from Gqeberha and Alberton’s very own Domonique Stander.
When she is not busy with school work, Domonique works at her family’s small business called ‘Love At First Bite’ – a bakery that is growing from strength to strength.
Her subject choices at school include hospitality and tourism due to her goal of wanting to open her own bakery business.
