Author of numerous cookery books, TV presenter and much loved queen of baking Mary Berry has been teaching us how to cook for almost six decades and has published more than 75 cookery books, including her best-selling Baking Bible in 2009. Mary Berry trained at the Cordon Bleu in Paris, her career started in the 1960s when she became the cookery editor of Housewife magazine, followed by Ideal Home magazine. She started working in TV in the early 70s although most of us know Mary from the Great British Bake Off where she was a judge from 2010 to 2016. In 2012 she was appointed a CBE for her services to culinary arts.
“Mary has been inspiring people to enjoy home cooking for decades. Some of my favourite recipes are by Mary, they really do work every single time”
Mary has been inspiring people to enjoy home cooking for decades. Some of my favourite recipes are by Mary, they really do work every single time and they were how I gained my confidence when I first started baking. A few of my favourites include her lemon drizzle cake, Victoria sandwich, classic scones and baked salmon. I have been a fan of Mary’s for many years not just because her recipes are foolproof but because she is such a genuine and inspiring person. Along with her successful career Mary is a mother of three and a grandmother. She sadly lost one of her sons aged 19 and is a patron of Child Bereavement UK alongside the Duke of Cambridge. Throughout her life she has faced many difficulties however she continues on with grace and style and as a result has been an unprecedented success.
I was thrilled when I received an invitation to have afternoon tea with Mary at the iconic Claridge’s hotel last summer to celebrate the launch of a new line of Mary Berry’s cakes. Mary launched her first cake range in 2017 for retail in supermarkets nationwide. Her range of cakes initially included seven of her signature bakes, such as lemon drizzle cake, an indulgent chocolate celebration cake and carrot cake and now features raspberry, lemon and chocolate cupcakes, a rose gift cake and toffee coffee cake. The cakes have been designed by Mary at home taking inspiration from her famous recipes.
“Her range of cakes initially included seven of her signature bakes, such as lemon drizzle cake, an indulgent chocolate celebration cake and carrot cake”
To celebrate the occasion Mary had a reception at the French Salon followed by afternoon tea in the Drawing Room. The French Salon is an elegant and atmospheric room with art deco ironwork features. One of the most stunning event rooms that I have seen in London; the Drawing Room has imposing marble fireplaces, patterned wallpaper and 18th-century elegance. For the occasion both rooms were covered in yellow roses and candles for a really magical setting. I absolutely loved trying all of Mary’s cakes and found very little difference between them and a home-baked cake. I discussed with Mary’s team the process behind taking one of her home recipes and then adapting it so that it can be mass produced. Very little changes are made to her original recipes which is evident when you try the cakes from her supermarket range.
The highlight of the event was of course speaking with both Mary and her daughter Annabel who were as charming and welcoming as you would imagine them to be. Like many people I have been watching Mary Berry on television for many years, her manner is so charming that we naturally start to feel as if we know her, nevertheless I was still a little nervous to meet her in person. When I introduced myself to Mary she held my hand in both of hers as I told her about all of the recipes of hers which I loved and why she meant so much to both me and my mother. Meeting her was more wonderful than I could have ever expected and one of the highlights of my social media experiences.
Mary Berry’s cakes are available nationwide in supermarkets.
You can find out more about Mary Berry at https://www.maryberry.co.uk/
