Posted by María Pérez Martínez
on July 30, 2025
Test and excitement. This is how Maritta was born.
And that's how we felt when they announced that our cheesecake took home silver in the 5th ACYRE Competition. The scream in my TikTok video is 100% real.
It all started in July 2024. Although Maritta was officially born in September 2024, I'd already been tinkering with the ovens for several months. From the start, I knew I wanted to enter the competition in 2025. And with good reason: just being among the finalists was a significant achievement.
Last year, I decided that Maritta would be one of those cheesecakes that won't go unnoticed. I've always been a fan of simplicity and classics, and that's where Maritta came from: not needing a biscuit base that takes away from the cake's prominence, not having to add flour, vanilla, or butter to enhance the flavor. With just a few ingredients, but good ones, you can make a great product.
The competition required using a cheese with the M seal from Madrid and another ingredient with that seal. I did several tastings, but I was always hesitant to use fresh goat cheese. I tried one from Miraflores de la Sierra and loved the result.
After several weeks of preparation (because signing up didn't guarantee participation: you had to pass a filter), I sent my entry along with a photo of the cake I would present.
Many things were assessed: flavor, pairing, presentation, cleanliness, originality, plating... We had to wait three days for the deadline to end and the finalists to be announced.
And Monday arrived.
"I'm under attack" was the phrase I repeated most that week.
Now all that was left was to focus on what was important:
Personalize the chef's jacket, buy the tableware at Zara Home, the ingredients, the little jars for the pairing... everything.
To be honest, I've always felt more comfortable flying under the radar. Imposter syndrome has been a big part of my life.
Being in that contest, even though it may seem silly, was a huge step for me .
It meant being the center of attention of eight jury members, television cameras… and the possibility that something I created could become famous. All of that seemed impossible to me.
And it happened.
My turn came. My hands were shaking, the plating table was almost taller than me, and my vision was blurring. Behind me, they were saying, "You have 4 minutes left," and I still had 5 dishes left to plate. Anyway. Not even in the entrance exam.
But I confess something to you:
I documented the entire process since I signed up.
It was my way of convincing myself that this video would see the light of day… because Maritta was going to be one of the winners. Don't underestimate the power of the mind.
I presented my cake to the eight members of the jury.
He had a cheat sheet that I didn't even read.
They probably thought I was going to cry because of my trembling voice.
It may sound exaggerated, but I think I've already told you that I am a very nervous person.
In the TikTok video, you can see how many struggles I had with the plating, so I was really pleased when this turned out.
Anyway, I stole this photo from a newspaper article because Maritta came in second place!!! And I was even more shocked. I think it was the first prize I'd ever won, because it was also the first contest I'd entered.
I didn't know if I should say hello, give kisses, take the diploma, pose for the photo, or go back to my seat...
I just know I was in a cloud.
All the effort had been worth it.
I just knew I was on cloud nine, that all the effort had been worth it, and that I had a long production run of cakes to make.
And that's how, in one day, I got over the TV situation, being the center of attention for eight jury members, and Maritta became a little more well-known. We'll work on the impostor syndrome.
Almost two weeks later, I continue to be amazed at the number of people who have come to meet us.
And that, without a doubt, is what makes me the happiest
I hope to continue telling many more anecdotes like this.
Thanks for being there!
Maria
