The Great British Bake-Off has become one of the most-popular programmes on mainstream TV and one fan is Dr Laxmi Hegde, a general dentist who has gained a reputation for producing showstopping cakes and cupcakes, impressing her colleagues at mydentist Bridgehouse.
Laxmi first discovered her passion for baking, like so many others, during the first COVID-19 lockdown in May 2020.
Commenting on her hobby, she said: “I was on maternity leave and I remember my social media feeds suddenly becoming full of people baking, so I started to experiment with it.
“At first, I thought baking would be just like cooking, so I did not follow a recipe.
“I added random ingredients without measuring anything out – and it was a disaster!
“But, with some practice, and a recipe, I got better and started to really enjoy it.”
Laxmi’s bakes have come a long way since 2020.
When asked about her most-successful creation to date, she said: “It would have to be my son’s first birthday cake.
“It was a four-layer vanilla sponge cake with buttercream decorations.
“I managed to pull off a stripey finish and it turned out beautifully.”
For Laxmi, baking is more than just a hobby.
“Between two kids, postgraduate study, and work, it is hard to find time for myself,” she said.
“But baking is like therapy to me.
“It helps me relax. There is also a definite crossover between baking and dentistry – both requiring patience and a steady hand.”
It is not just Laxmi’s family and friends who get the chance to enjoy her bakes.
She is renowned in her practice for bringing cupcakes in for her colleagues.
Leanne Villers, practice manager at mydentist Bridgehouse, said: “Laxmi is modest about her skills as a baker, but her cakes are magnificent.
“We couldn’t believe she was so gifted!
“It is such a treat when she brings cupcakes in for the team, they’re the perfect pick-me-up and it always puts a smile on everyone’s faces.”
While Laxmi won’t be making an appearance on this year’s Bake Off, her colleagues at mydentist Bridgewater assure us they won’t stop trying to convince her to apply.
mydentist supports around 4 million patients a year and believes everyone deserves a great smile.