Nurman Noor '08 Earns a Top Spot in The Great Australian Bake Off
April 7, 2022
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Nurman Noor '08 baked his way to a top spot in the latest season of The Great Australian Bake Off.
Noor, of Tasmania, Australia, was one of three finalists in the final episode on March 31. The season started with 12 Australian bakers and ultimately Ella Rossanis, of Sydney, Australia, was crowned best amateur baker for season 6.
Modeled after the popular BBC baking competition The Great British Bake Off, contestants compete in three baking challenges each week including a signature bake, a technical bake and a show-stopper. Judges critique the creations, choosing a star baker and eliminating one contestant each episode.
Noor is a general practitioner with Cygnet Family Practice and John Street Medical Centre in Tasmania, Australia. During his first year of medical school, he rediscovered a passion for baking that developed when he was a child.
“I started baking when I was 8, helping mum in the kitchen while she was running her catering business,” said Noor. “I've found it to be a good way to wind down and I love feeding people.”
During his run on the show, Noor was named star baker on week 2 for his coffee biscuits and pocky sticks, and on week 9 for his breakfast pastries and a biscuit piñata created in his likeness – complete with his signature fedora hat and curly mustache. In the final episode, he impressed the judges with an elaborate glass house cake.
In addition to his baking knowledge, Noor’s cheerful demeanor and strong ambition paved the way for his advancement in the competition. He described the environment of the show as “tough but quite supportive.”
“This experience has been wild, to say the least,” he said. “On one hand, it was quite stressful, particularly with the filming and the lack of sleep. On the other hand, I got to meet some of the most passionate people out there. The other bakers bonded instantly like a family. It has been the experience of a lifetime.”
As a child, Noor lived in Indonesia before attending high school in Hong Kong. He began studying at Illinois Wesleyan University in 2004 as an international student.
“I was fascinated by the idea of a liberal arts education. My parents wanted me to do pre-med, and IWU has been known to be good at that, so it fulfilled both criteria,” said Noor.
While studying a double-major of biology and philosophy, Noor was involved with the International Society on campus, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, worked on the sound and lighting crew at Hansen Student Center and served as a resident advisor.
Noor sees baking as his creative outlet. His skill as a doctor and passion as a baker proves that interdisciplinary knowledge can lead to unique experiences.
“My advice for others would be to go for it, kick the door wide open, be bold and don't be afraid to take a risk,” said Noor. “You don't have to be defined by your career or occupation. We are multifaceted individuals and we should celebrate that.”
By Julia Perez