‘We’re going head-to-head’: Inara and Jeff Lang face off in Royal Adelaide Show bake-off

After working all week, family bonds are put aside in the name of winning top honours. Judging in the Royal Adelaide Show’s truly brutal competition has started.

More than 2000 people have flocked to Wayville to submit their entries in the Royal Adelaide Show’s annual professional baking competitions – with some putting family love aside to settle their culinary rivalries.

Inara Lang, 18, submitted 13 different baked goods on Friday after spending “about 20 hours” in the kitchen this week – all while balancing her year 12 studies at St Ignatius College.

Her dad Jeff, a steward at this year’s event, said the pair were “really competitive” with “everything”, and were both looking forward to being judged in the same adult category this year.

Father daughter team Inara and Jeff Lang cooking in their kitchen at 11pm the day before judging. Picture: Supplied

“As she gets older, she’s become more competitive and as an adult, she now enters into the categories that I enter into,” Mr Lang said. “Now we’re going head-to-head in chocolate cakes, sourdough and Anzac biscuits.

“Last year we got tied third for Anzacs so we’re going to try one-up each other this year,” Ms Lang said.

“I’ve been in the kitchen pretty much every day this week from when I get home from school, to 10:00pm at night.

“I’ve been so excited – I’ve been counting down the days and I had my whole planner of when I was going to bake everything. It’s one of my favourite times of the year, like this day – just coming in and seeing everyone so excited to drop off their things – it makes me so happy.”

Father-daughter rivals Inara, 18, and Jeff Lang, with some of their baked goods for the Royal Adelaide Show’s baking competition. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Amateur cooks bring their baking to the Wayville Showgrounds for judging. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Amateur cooks bring their baking to the Wayville Showgrounds for judging. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Judging is under way for the baking at the Royal Adelaide Show. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Most cash prizes will vary from $25 to $100 – with the grand $500 prize being awarded to the inaugural winner of the Nova 919 Frittata competition.

This year’s show will feature a free farmers market for kids, specially designed ferris wheel and designated quiet times to make the event more inviting than ever before.

Giant-themed showbags have taken a major hit though at this year’s Royal Adelaide Show after a supplier “couldn’t get the stock in time”, with the Giant Zappomungus and Cadbury Giant Freddo & Friends bags now scrapped from the event.

Walford School student Elsie Johnson, 17, with her decorated cupcakes. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Ticket prices have remained steady, with adult and family tickets costing just $1 more than last year.

Elsie Johnson, 17, from Peake in country SA, said she always “blocked out” the first week of the show just for cooking – specialising in cupcakes and jubilee cakes.

“It’s definitely something I look forward to and something I enjoy doing,” Ms Johnson said.