Last weekend, the MAI DULCE Festival brought a delightful array of sweets, community spirit, and unforgettable moments! Here’s a sweet summary of what went down.

Cherry on the Cake Contest Winners:

Best Traditional Dessert: Margareta Cheptănari Margareta Cheptănari wowed the judges once again, securing the Best Traditional Dessert Trophy for the second time! This year, she charmed everyone with her family’s BLACK BABA recipe, a dessert passed down through generations. Margareta’s passion for baking started in her childhood, learning from her mother. In 2018, she won first place with her Walnut, Natural Honey, and Cocoa Cake, reminiscent of Moldovan griliaj.

Best International Dessert: Irina Cazacu Irina Cazacu, the talented creator of Ice Dessert Atelier, took home the Best International Dessert Trophy. Her Lemon Basil Cake – Lemon Bazil – drew inspiration from a Spanish holiday. Shaped like a clam, this exquisite cake can be found in a seafood-only restaurant in Chisinau, adding a touch of coastal elegance to the festival.

Best Vegan Dessert: TidBit.md The innovative TidBit.md brand triumphed with their Raspberry Chicken Milk Cake, capturing the Best Vegan Dessert Trophy. This melt-in-your-mouth creation featured fluffy soufflé made from aquafaba (chickpea juice), gluten-free almond flour biscuits, organic raspberry confit, and Tid Bit’s signature natural chocolate. TidBit’s story began with a mother’s quest to create the healthiest chocolate for her child, and their desserts continue to set a new standard for health and taste.

Which dessert will make you a wink?

MY SWEET WORD: Little Speakers Competition 

For the first time, we hosted the MY SWEET WORD competition, where 12 young speakers from across Moldova – Chisinau, Floresti, Dubasari, Straseni, Briceni, Cahul, and Calarasi – took the stage. These inspiring children delivered speeches on European values, emphasizing the importance of education, justice, economy, healthcare, infrastructure, and environmental protection for Moldova’s future.

Children’s Fair: First Pocket Money Earned 

We were thrilled to see over 100 enthusiastic kids participating in the Children’s Fair at the MAI DULCE Festival. These young entrepreneurs cleaned out their rooms and brought their treasures to trade, earning their first pocket money and learning valuable lessons about commerce and community.

The MAI DULCE Festival was a heartwarming celebration of tradition, innovation, and youthful spirit. Thank you to everyone who participated and made it a sweet success! Until next year, keep spreading the sweetness!