THE world famous British baking series, The Great British Bake Off (GBBO) just crowned its 13th season champion – Malaysian-born Syabira Yusoff. Syabira, 32, who reigned supreme in the tough culinary competition against Abdul Rehman Sharif, and Sandro Farmhouse, after a particularly challenging final pushed the baking masters to their limits.
Host Matt Lucas, alongside the panel of judges, declared Syabira the victor, who then called the win the “biggest achievement in my life.”
Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith gave high praises to Syabira, despite all three finalists having suffered major setbacks, causing many ardent followers of the show to take to social media to claim that the bakers were being ‘set-up’ in a dramatic finale.
The finale saw the remaining contestants tasked to assemble the perfect picnic for the signature challenge and create a summer classic for the technical. The bakers were assigned to make a Summer Pudding Bombe for the technical section and both Syabira and Sandro saw theirs collapse after the jelly and mousse failed to set, because they had been asked to cook with vegetarian gelatin without any instructions.
Taking to Twitter, one audience member wrote: “It’s like they are setting the bakers up for failure how are the bakes going to know you need to boil vegetable gelatin if you don’t put that in the instructions none of the bakers are vegan."
Judge Paul Hollywood remarked on Syabira’s work saying “some of the flavors we have never had before and are unlikely to have again. She is an incredible baker.” Fellow judge Prue Leith chimed in, “she is creative, and she is careful. She practices like anything, and she is imaginative. She just has the lot. She is a very skillful baker.”
For Syabira, it was a surreal moment. “I cannot believe it, honestly, it has not sunk in yet. All the hard work, all the trial and error, it has all been worth it,” she said.
In the final jaw-dropping challenge, the bakers were tasked to make a celebration of the planet, with Syabira's orangutan edible structure proving to be the most exciting.
Syabira, who is currently working as a cardiovascular research associate, lives in London with her boyfriend Bradley. She moved to the UK in 2013 to continue her PhD. Syabira only started baking in 2017 and her bakes often have a Malaysian twist to British classics, such as chicken rendang Cornish pasties. She says she is "quick to learn and a resilient baker" and that her favourite cake is a red velvet cake, which was the first bake she ever made.
“I became more confident and trusted my instincts. There is only one way to know if you can do it – just do it!” she said upon winning. – The Vibes, November 16, 2022
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