Wellington's third annual Cob Loaf Festival was held on Saturday, November 16 at Cameron Park. Taking out the title of Cob Loaf World Champion was Diego Baradit with his South American inspired creation. Mr Baradit also won the cold category and Wellington's Charmaine Bell won the hot section with her cheese and bacon cob loaf. People came from across the central west to attend the festival, including Narromine, Orange, Coonamble, Dubbo and Collie. Kicking off the festival was a cob loaf masterclass conducted by Pat Swain from Orange and Narromine's Julie Hunt. Visitors got to try a wide range of cobs that also included a dessert cob. Mr Baradit first became aware of the festival last year and had the idea of entering then. Having just recently just moved to Wellington with his wife, Mr Baradit thought he would take inspiration from his South American heritage with a cold steak cob loaf. ALSO MAKING NEWS: It was his first time making a cob loaf, and Mr Baradit cooked the bread himself, especially for the festival. Ms Bell first entered the competition in its inaugural year with the same cob loaf. She said the cheese and bacon creation is such a huge hit among her friends at parties that she decided to enter it again in the 2019 festival. The judging panel consisted of Cob Loaf Federation President Andrew McKay, Ms Swain and Ms Hunt, as well as Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders and his wife, Karen. Cob enthusiasts were again able to taste the two creations once judging was complete.
