A TEAM of Chefs at The Pig in Combe are competing in the 2024 Bake Off: The Professionals.

The Pig in Combe is one in a series of upmarket hotels across the UK, which first opened in 2011 and has a huge emphasis on food and using local produce.

Hungarian born team captain, Emese Patko is the head pastry chef and is joined by friend and colleague pastry chef Abi.

Emese begun working in hospitality at just 14, washing dishes for the local restaurant before beginning a chefs apprenticeship aged 16 and working her way up the ranks at some of Hungary’s top restaurants.

In 2014 she moved to the UK with her husband and having worked under Angela Hartnett at Limewood for a period, she eventually joined her husband at The Pig.

Abi grew up in Devon and her vast experience as a pastry chef at hotels and restaurants first began just like her team captain’s, washing the dishes in kitchens aged 14.

In 2019 she joined F1 team Williams and travelling the globe as one of the team pastry chefs before settling in Somerset with her husband and dog, Keith.

If they win, they could be the first all-female team to lift the Bake Off: The Professionals trophy.

Emese told the Herald about her time on Bake Off: "I have always wanted to challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone and this seemed like the perfect opportunity! While I've dabbled in smaller competitions, this high-level challenge promised an entirely new experience.

"The best moment for me was meeting the other teams. When I first walked up from the car park and saw the other teams chatting or being interviewed it all suddenly felt very real and exciting. The funniest moment was when Benoit asked us how many eclairs we had made. The challenges were difficult, I think maybe the worst moment was when we decided to make a last-minute change to our showstopper. It didn’t quite go to plan, but I’ll leave the details for the viewers to find out!

"The presence of the cameras proved more challenging to me than I thought it would. The ticking of the clock and the ever-watchful lenses created an intense atmosphere, it felt almost like the world outside had stopped and everything narrowed to that moment.

"The competition pushed me mentally, physically, and professionally but I learnt so much and was continuously inspired throughout my experience. For me the highlight is the friendships I made which I'll forever cherish.

Bake Off: The Professionals is back for a ninth series with a fresh batch of pastry chefs competing to be named Britain’s Best.

In the first episode of the new series the judges have set the challenge of a 'French classic with a secret challenge.'

Without proper recipes teams will have to create 36 individual tarte aux fraise and one chocolate amenity in just three and a half hours.

For their second challenge teams will create a music-themed Trompe L’oeil showpiece within which are hidden Pecan Pies.

The Great British Bake Off alumni and Junior Bake Off judge Liam Charles returns with co-host: comedian, actress and writer Ellie Taylor. Benoit Blin, Chef Pâtissier at Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, and Cherish Finden, International pastry consultant judge a new raft of challenges at Firle Place in Sussex for 10 episodes.