>
The origins of the Pavlova are hotly disputed.
Supposedly created in the honour of Anna Pavlova, a Russian ballerina who toured Australia and New Zealand in the 1920s, it’s a cultural icon in both countries and Australia JUST WON’T ACCEPT that it’s a New Zealand invention.
I used to work with an IT consultant by the name of Rob Jamieson, who – like all Aussies – reckoned they could bake the True Pav.
So I’d bake one from Mum’s (Isabel‘s, actually)
recipe, he’d bake one from HIS Mum’s recipe and the folks in the office would say “This is REALLY nice, but last week’s one was a TAD better”
We’d go back into this endless loop until we twigged that they weren’t really connoisseurs at all – they just wanted free Pav.
So when one of Ms jb’s tenants turned up the other day with a plate (this is ours from Viv Ross) of Christmas cookies, I got an idea.
Given that the above-mentioned patissiere is Portuguese and the fact that there’s another evidently talented Portuguese baker, blogger and budding scientist in the v. near vicinity, I’m proposing a Portuguese Christmas Goodies Bake-off.
Taster, judge and jury being me…..
Mainz Daily Photo 
>Delicious looking plate of Christmas cookies. I think that you need to share the tasting responsibilities all around
>Taster, judge and jury, that's the best position you can ever get. Except you have to face the ire of the unlucky pastry cook whose pav you didn't select as best.
>It really would have been nice if you would have invited Great Kate of St. Paul and me to join in the cookie tasting (with coffee)!! I would even have worn a Christmas bowtie!
>As I'm not a baker, but I can really appreciate the hours and hours it took to produce this obviously delicious plate of delights. Enjoy JB!V
>You, of course, would assume the best roles! The plate of cookies look mighty tasty.