Perth Voice Interactive

PINA NICOLETTI isn’t sure whether she has six or seven trophies for the torte she’s whipped up for the annual Italian Festival’s “la competizione dolciaria” (sweets competition).

“I didn’t compete one year, and mum won,” she tells the Voice.

There’s a tradition, and passion, for sweets-making handed down the family’s generations of women: “Mum was my teacher, and I’m going to teach my girls so they can pick up where I leave off,” Mrs Nicoletti says. The secret of her success is to make everything herself, including the sponge and custard and using quality, fresh cream: “And I use mum’s home-made liquor inside the cake.”

Taste is vital, but decoration makes it a lot of fun: “I try to do an Italian theme, with the Italian flag and I use edible glitter.”

The winner of this year’s “la competizione dolciaria” will be announced at the Italian Club, Wednesday May 28.