The Great CoFa Dessert Competition

What happens when half the company casually mentions in an All Hands that their hobby is baking? Absolute chaos—in the best possible way. That day the chat exploded with people demanding to try those desserts, someone jokingly said “dessert competition,” and from that moment on… there was no going back. Every few weeks someone would message me like, “Sooo… when are we doing the dessert competition?” Others even sent me Instagram reels with ideas—as if subtle hints ever worked with me. 😂 So with the perfect excuse (the anniversary of the DPT & BI teams moving into our office), we finally made it happen.

The Hype Begins

The moment I announced it, things got serious. People started asking me what my favorite dessert was—because yes, I was part of the jury and everyone suddenly became VERY friendly. A little too friendly. The bribe attempts were… creative. We ended up with 10 competitors, each more motivated than the next. Some baked late into the night, others started in the early morning, and a few even travelled from other cities with their sweet masterpieces. And of course, I joined too—with my authentic Argentinian chocotorta. We invited the whole office, and around 30 colleagues came to taste, vote, laugh, and bond over absurd amounts of sugar. It was beautiful. And slightly dangerous for our glucose levels.

Three Categories, One Room Full of Sugar

We had three award categories:

• Best Taste
• Most Creative
• Office Favorite

The plan was for me to help judge… but I quickly realized I was too biased. I loved everything, everyone kept trying to charm me into voting for them, and to be completely honest.. I just wanted to relax and eat in peace. So I stepped out of the jury and focused on presenting and moderating the event. Best Decision Ever.

Meanwhile, the jury took their role very seriously. The concentration on their faces was priceless.

The Winners (and My Shocking Almost-Win)

I came in with zero expectations—my only goal was to let people try chocotorta. But in the end… I somehow got second place in ALL THREE categories. I didn’t win any of them, but I was only one point behind the winner each time. Iconic. And who beat me? An Italian. Which, let’s be honest, is the highest honor any Argentine dessert can receive. My ancestors (the collective Italian influence in Argentina) are proud. The winner absolutely deserved it: he made a tiramisu cheesecake so creamy and glorious it should be illegal. He took home Best Taste and Office Favorite. The Most Creative award went to another colleague who made delicious chocolate “spider eggs” —the perfect spooky touch for late October.

Sweet Moments & Even Sweeter Connections

The best part? Watching new and old colleagues connect. People trying desserts together, debating favorites, laughing over sugar highs—it was pure community magic. This event showed once again how much joy a simple idea can bring when everyone gets involved. A small spark ("dessert competition!") turned into a full-on, high-effort, cross-city baking showdown.

I already can’t wait for the next one.

Written by Maria Silva, Workplace & Culture Manager