If you like Cake Boss and Ace of Cakes, you’ll like this, a competition between three bakeries to win $10,000 and the chance to showcase their cake at an aquarium’s Shark Summer kick off. (Oh, apparently this is a real show, not just a one time thing…) They will have nine hours to complete their cakes. The Client, Laurie, says make sure to add some fun. The cakes will each be 6 plus feet high. Normally cakes like this take a week.
As they go, they talk about what they do and the thought processes behind their creations. The judges will be coming in through out to ask questions. 60% must be edible. 40% can be anything else for strong support.
Tariq Hanna (executive pastry chef of Sucre in New Orleans)- tiered cake with a shark on top, shark eating cake
Ashley Vicos (has a private studio called “Sweet Ashley’s” in McDonough, Georgia where she takes private cake orders)- looks more like a model, baby sharks for the kids
Richard Medina (self taught, has his own cake shop in Riverside, California)- the underdog apparently–so says the judges, water feature! pedestal like
One guy says he names his cake pieces so that they become real and come to life.
The contestants have barely gotten started but they’re pulled away for a skills test. The winner will get to pick on of the other teams to lose thirty minutes of work time. The test? They have 3 crabs and have to replicate the crabs in 15 minutes, testing their talents and speed. Contestants begin smack talking already. The judges talk and the winner is Ashley (the others predicted she’d lose) because her coloring was closest. She picks Tariq to sit out.
Richard’s team discovers that the hole cut for the layers was too small so they couldn’t fit the layer on top.
Judging criteria- aesthetic appeal, client satisfaction, and difficulty
Last minute change to the cakes (because it isn’t enough of a challenge yet) they have to incorporate the shark summer logo. Ok, not a huge change.
Oh no, Tariq’s cake is starting to tilt. He pretends it’s intentional. Then Ashley cuts her thumb because she’s rushing. (The judge thinks she isn’t focused.) The cut keeps breaking open, good thing she won the challenge and didn’t lose even more time. Richard breaks the tube for the water element. So basically all hell is breaking lose for each of them.
They’re interrupted for taste testing. The winner will again get to pick one of the other teams to sit idle for 30 min. They each taste very good. Well that’s a good sign. The winner is…Richard. He choses Ashley to sit out. (Probably good since it’ll give her thumb a chance to close more.)
Richard works to repair their broken tubes. Tariq creates bubbles and then sees that one of the sharks is being wrapping in fondant that wasn’t the color he wanted.
The water is rising in Richard’s tube, but it stops. (Why is it rising?)
Ashley’s cake area is chaos in motion.
Each cake looks great so far and with ten minutes to go there’s barely time to add the final touches.
Hands down time is up…Tariq says he’s nervous because let’s face it, Ashley did an amazing cake.
Bringing out the cake the contestants freak that their masterpieces will break.
Tariq- brightly colored, but tilted (pretends it was intentional but they say it should look intentional then) taking away the fear of sharks
Richard- true to sketch, unfinished work, looks like kindergarden kid made the cake (he says he’s embarrassed of his cake)
Ashley- the shark moves around! a little dark and gloomy and didn’t quite finish the fondant retouching, sign isn’t quite visible, very detailed full of things to look at
Thinking event wise Tariq’s case fits best in my mind because it’s fun and welcoming which is good for kids, though I like Ashley’s most for its intricate details.
The judges discuss and ask Laurie, the client if she agrees. She nods her head but seems hesitant about it.
Richard’s vision didn’t come to life. Third place. Goodbye.
Laurie says she’s very impressed with both but there is just one winner…TARIQ will be taking home $10,000. He presents his cake to applause and cheers. Kids certainly enjoy.