• Taylor Baker 15 of Attadale (left) won the Lilly Street Lasagna Bake-Off’s Out of the Box category in 2013 and 2014 for her lasagna-style layered cake. She’s pictured with Jasmine Powell, 21, from South Freo and Matthew Elliott of WGV, who won in 1999. On the stove is what we reckon might be a controversial ingredient. Photo by Matthew Dwyer

AS weather warms and tomatoes ripen, the aroma of lasagna wafts across Lilly Street.

Residents young and old, new and long-established, prepare for the annual bake-off.

This year the event turns 18.

“Why it has become so popular I do not know” chuckles Paul Jacobs, bake-off organiser and MC.

“My wife was walking down the street one day when she caught a whiff of lasagne coming from Matt Elliot’s house.”

Mr Elliot and neighbour Simon Jones had been in the midst of a small-scale bake-off, betting on who could make the better lasagne.

“My wife got in on the bet too, and by the time the next bake-off came around, the whole street was involved,” says Mr Jacobs, who calls his home the “spaghetti mansion”.

“We put some cars across Lilly Street to close it off, and had a bit of a lasagna party. We found a rusted old, beat-up baking tray in someone’s backyard and that became the trophy.”

The bake-off has three categories: one for residents, one for outsiders and something for experimenters, which has included lasagne of the dessert and liqueur varieties.

Judges include Mr Elliott, chef Richard Heigold-Selfe, and Italian-born cook Maria Mafcaro.

Mr Elliott says the fourth judge is an 18th birthday surprise, but hinted at a famous restaurateur, and that entrants should be nervous.

The bake-off is Saturday, November 21.

by JESSICA COCKERILL