The Tiramisu World Cup will take place in Treviso this weekend and for one long-time LittlePodder, the chance to test his skills in international competition was too good to turn down. Having refined his tactics and implemented a strict pre-tournament diet – based, in the main, around tiramisu – Devon-based David faces a late selection dilemma as he prepares to choose his starting line-up of ingredients. Having assembled his favourite LittlePod products for the forthcoming trip to Italy, can David pick a winning team? These are his pre-match musings:

LittlePod: You’re off to the Tiramisu World Cup! Tell us more…

David: Ever since I came to the realisation that I wasn’t destined to be selected for the Olympics, I’ve been looking for another international competition to demonstrate my talents. I can’t quite remember how I first heard about this – that happens a lot at my age. I’ve been cooking for a long time – ever since I was a much younger man (pictured) – and I’m hoping it stands me in good stead. Experience can be crucial in the big-match environment and I have that if nothing else. Who doesn’t want to go to a World Cup? The fact that tiramisu is involved is the icing on the cake, so to speak.

You’re not planning to ice your tiramisu, though?

Of course not – but I have spent this week working on pre-tournament tactics. I’ve made – and eaten – a lot of tiramisu in the last few days, three or four already, with more still to come. These preparations and the ingredients that I select are going to be crucial when the competition starts in Italy. I’m thinking of myself as being a little like a football manager readying his team for a tournament.

Like the Pep Guardiola of puddings?

I don’t want to overdo the footballing analogy, but I have got LittlePod’s natural vanilla paste, organic coffee extract and pure chocolate extract available to me. It’s like being a manager who is given George Best, Lionel Messi and Pele in their prime. These ingredients are the star players – I’m the man on the sidelines, trying to get them to work together. The tactic will be to let my centre-forward steal the show.

The centre-forward being…?

The natural vanilla paste, of course. The other ingredients – the sponge fingers, the sugar and everything else that is provided – are the utility players, there to support the star man. We all know that LittlePod’s natural vanilla paste enhances all the other flavours so it’s just a case of getting the balance right. I have a recipe that uses all three ingredients – the vanilla paste and the coffee and chocolate extracts. But there’s still a lot to work on in training and a final selection to be made.

That final selection could be crucial, then?

Indeed. There are two categories at the Tiramisu World Cup – original and creative. In the original section, you are given five specific ingredients and nothing else. I’m taking part in the creative category, which means that I can choose up to three additional ingredients. I’m experimenting with an almond syrup at the moment, but the combination of LittlePod vanilla, coffee and chocolate could give me an advantage. That’s all I’m saying at this stage. I don’t want to give too much away.

That sounds sensible. So how are you feeling?

The pre-tournament nerves are kicking in. I’ve never taken part in a competition or done anything like this before. I did wake up this morning and think, ‘What are you doing to yourself?’ But I’m sure it’ll be alright on the night. When I read the words ‘amateur cook’ in the confirmation email, it made me feel better. There’s no need to actually cook anything and truly, I live up to the word ‘amateur’ in every sense!

Don’t do yourself down, David! Your heritage might help…

Well, I am a quarter-Italian, genetically-speaking. That might give me the edge if the Tiramisu World Cup were in England. But in Italy, competing against cooks who are 100% Italian, I’m not so sure. Maybe having travelled all that way, they’ll take pity, especially if I tell them about my great-grandfather and his brother, who emigrated from Basilicata in the 1800s. I suspect the ingredients I have will be more beneficial.

Your suitcase will be packed with LittlePod products then?

Yes indeed – and all the equipment that I’ll need as this isn’t provided. I’ll be taking a bag full of bowls and mixers and spoons and spatulas, which will be interesting at the airport, and the LittlePod products that will give my tiramisu the intense flavour that I’m going to be aiming for in Treviso. It should be a great experience and good fun. If nothing else, I’ll get a big chef’s hat and an apron to wear while I’m there.

We look forward to seeing a photograph – and following your progress!

We shall see! The first round is on Saturday, with the semi-finals and the final on Sunday. Rather immodestly, I’ve booked a return flight for Monday, after the final. The flight schedules all work perfectly, so perhaps it’s meant to be. But it’s going to be difficult to progress. The first round is split into groups of ten and just one person goes through. If I can just get some good feedback about the flavours, I’ll be happy.

With LittlePod products in your locker, we fancy your chances of doing that…

Thank-you, but it’s not the ingredients I’m worried about! I’ve done everything I can – a pre-tournament tiramisu-based diet, a consultation with a culinary psychologist and some sessions at the gym to work on the muscles I’ll need for all that whisking! I’ll need a man-of-the-match performance but with LittlePod on my side, maybe there is a route out of the group and into the knock-out stages. The odds are long, but anything could happen. One thing is for certain, it’s sure to be interesting!

First held in 2017, the Tiramisu World Cup is open to non-professional cooks, who will compete over two days in Treviso to be crowned the Tiramisu World Champion. David and the other competitors in the Creative section will be provided with four ingredients – mascarpone, eggs, coffee and cocoa powder – which must be used. Contestants can use the ladyfingers provided or an alternative biscuit or sponge cake, white or brown sugar or an alternative sweetener of choice, plus a maximum of three additional ingredients. Each tiramisu will be judged on a number of criteria including taste, aesthetics and the contestant’s technical skills.

From the team here at LittlePod, we send David our best wishes for the Tiramisu World Cup. Follow us on Instagram for the post-match verdict!