Hey Audrey! Tell us a bit about yourself and Holy Sugar. My name is Audrey Allard and I own Holy Sugar in Northcote. Holy Sugar was born out of Melbourne’s lockdown in 2020. It started off as a once-a-week dessert box that I would deliver around Melbourne but after two years of hustling I was able to put my funds towards a cute cake little cake shop in Northcote.  How do you plan your delicious baking ideas? Honestly, I am quite compulsive when it comes to my creations! I bake what I feel inspired to bake. Some weeks I’ll have a craving to make puff pastry so I’ll put an apple tatin on the menu. Some products stick and become a staple and others just have short debuts. What’s the actual making and baking process like? The process starts on a Monday afternoon when I place all of my orders for the week. Tuesdays are for receiving and packing down the orders and by Wednesday I have the kitchen all set up and ready to start prepping. Thursday is another big prep day where I usually work from 8am-6pm. Friday and Saturday are spent filling the cabinet and prepping for the next day and Sunday is a little more relaxing – I’ll just fill the cabinet and float around the shop. Tell us about the best thing that’s come out creating Holy Sugar. I think the best thing is the community. I often get emails from people telling me how I have inspired them and others who ask for career advice and baking advice – I love helping where I can.What are your favourite kitchen tools and gadgets to use? The mandolin is definitely a favourite tool – however, it’s very sharp! My sugar thermometer and timers are also up there in value.

How do you keep creatively inspired? Creatively I keep inspired by watching others in the creative industry. Artists, florists… everything! I recently went to the opening of the ballet Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and that alone inspired me! At the end of the day we’re all trying to create beautiful experiences for our consumers. How did you find working on the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo A1M? The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo A1M is super lightweight… less than a kilo! It’s the perfect size to bring with me when I’m working out of the office (plus it has a very long battery life). I’ve been using it for video editing and the screen quality is so much better than my old laptop, plus the colours are so vivid and realistic! I’m still dabbling in the video side of social media, working out what style resonates with me etc. It’s a fun journey. The other thing I appreciate is that if I need to do a video call in a busy environment, my sound comes across super clearly due to the high quality internal mics and the AI Noise Cancellation Pro feature.Any tips for budding chefs or cooks out there? Honestly just do what makes you happy. If you need advice, always reach out but also trust your instincts, deep down you always know what's right for you and don’t compare yourself to others! Put your blinders on and carve your own path even if it’s not traditional.

This chat was presented by MSI and their new MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo A1M. It’s thin, light and super powerful plus boasts a long-lasting battery with fast-charge tech for when you’re working on the go. For more, head to au.msi.com.