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SANDAKAN: Sandakan is on the hunt for its next iconic pastry — one that could one day stand alongside the UFO tart as a beloved symbol of the town’s rich food heritage.

The Sandakan Pastry Competition, a community-driven initiative, is calling on locals to create an original sweet or savoury treat that captures the town’s unique flavours and culinary identity.

Organising Chairman Anton Ngui said the competition aims to encourage innovation while providing a platform for both seasoned and home-based bakers to showcase their creativity.

“We hope to encourage Sandakan people to innovate with pastry making, and come up with unique pastries to represent Sandakan as a special food destination,” he said in a statement on Friday. 

“We just want to play our small part to support this effort.”

Ngui said the UFO tart — a soft sponge cake with custard and a buttery swirl — had become synonymous with Sandakan.

The competition hopes to inspire a new generation of bakers to create something equally iconic.

“There are a lot of home bakers in Sandakan these days, and we hope this will be a platform for them to shine,” he added.

Entries will be judged based on taste (45pc), creativity and presentation (45pc), and ease of production (10pc).

The top winner will receive RM500, followed by RM200 for second place and two RM100 consolation prizes. Interested candidates could register by contacting this number via WhatsApp:  012-2716988

Participants must deliver their entries between 2pm and 3pm on April 27, with winners announced at 5pm the same day. Registration closes on April 25.