Big Bears Donuts this year entered the Baking Association of Australia National Donut competition for the first time and came away with an incredible result.
It was high drama getting the donuts to the event, which was held at the Moonee Valley Racecourse, after the delivery van was caught up in heavy traffic on the Monash Freeway caused by a serious accident.
“It added an extra two hours onto the trip and we were unsure if the donuts would get there in time,” owner Ewan Fotheringham said.
They not only made it, but were awarded Champion Show Donut.
“We had donuts in four categories and won awards in all four. We received bronze in the Traditional Jam Donut, bronze in Glazed Round Donut, gold in the Savoury Creation with our Cobb Donut and gold in the Gourmet Donut with our Honey Joy Donut.
“Not only that, but we had four of the top six donuts in the Gourmet Donut category, plus the overall Champion Show Donut. To be recognised by judges of the Baking Association of Australia is surreal.”
Ewan acknowledged all the hard work put in by his team, including the kitchen staff, those in the shop and in the truck.
“Big Bears just doesn’t happen without them, and these awards are as much the staffs as ours,” he said.
Big Bears Donuts has also recently taken part in the Victoria Market Donut Festival, which is a two-day event incorporating World Donut Day. This day originated when Salvation Army girls were sent to make donuts for the troops in France during World War I.
“Our stall proved very popular, who would have thought a little shop in East Gippsland would have the longest queue against some of the biggest donut makers in Australia,” marvelled Ewan.
“A cool thing happened the next week, which was the King’s Birthday long weekend, when eight people who missed out on our donuts in Melbourne drove to Lakes Entrance to purchase our donuts and stay the weekend.
“This means they stayed, ate breakfast, shopped and dined out in our town, which is good for all. We like to give back to Lakes Entrance and are not take anything away from other businesses,” he said.
Big Bears is getting a name for itself throughout Victoria. Ewan mentioned that a man had rang to see if the shop would be open last weekend. He and his wife wanted to celebrate their wedding anniversary by coming to Lakes Entrance for donuts. Ewan was astounded that he was coming all the way from Mildura.
IMAGE: Big Bears Donuts winning Honey Joy Donut made with Tambo Valley Honey.
