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By Belinda Nolan

27th July 2010 11:05:18 AM

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Master chef ... Sydenham’s Amanda Payet in action during the Watergardens chef cook off. 50417 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

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AMANDA Payet is used to dealing with two of the most fussy client groups in the world – brides and babies. Now, the Sydenham resident is adding another string to her bow – shoppers.

The 38-year-old cake decorator is set to swap her icing and sprinkles for a chef’s hat after taking out the title at the 2010 Watergardens Chef competition last week.

An expert in pastry, Ms Payet admits the competition took her a little out of her comfort zone.

“I suppose I could have just made an elaborate cake but there wouldn’t have been any point in doing that,” Ms Payet said.

“The whole point was to make something that shoppers could go home and replicate so I decided to think outside of the square.”

Born of a big family, Ms Payet learned her love of cooking from her parents, who encouraged her to step into the kitchen at an early age.

The budding chef also works as a cook at a child care centre in Sydenham but says children are less fussy than brides.

“The kids aren’t difficult but I can cope with the brides pretty well, too,” she said.

Ms Payet wowed the judges, including Star’s own contributor Sarah Patterson, with her Meze Plate, with lamb cutlets, fresh Turkish bread and tzatziki. Ms Payet will now become Watergarden’s resident chef and will run weekly cooking demonstrations.

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