Thoa Nguyen didn’t get her hopes up when she first heard from a casting agent about taking part in Meals Community’s “Vacation Baking Championship.”
The proprietor of Aurora’s common Banh & Butter Bakery Cafe, at 9935 E. Colfax Ave., had already been turned down by a contest present two years prior, and “I used to be heartbroken after they despatched me house with out warning,” she stated.
However when Nguyen received the decision final spring to hop a airplane to Burbank, California, and movie the primary episode of season 10 of Meals Community’s “Vacation Baking Championship,” a baking competitors hosted by former Bachelor and NFL quarterback Jesse Palmer, her hesitation dissipated.
“I’ll do no matter I have to deliver some consideration to my workforce and enterprise, even put myself on nationwide tv in a weak spot to safe their livelihood and jobs,” Nguyen stated.
Josie Sexton, JS
Patrons sit within the solar at Banh & Butter Bakery Cafe in Aurora on April 15, 2022. (Photograph by Josie Sexton, JS)
The primary episode aired on Monday, Nov. 6., when Nguyen, who opened Banh & Butter final yr, competed in opposition to 11 different bakers in two challenges. For the Pre-heat problem, the bakers needed to create cinnamon rolls impressed by seasonal espresso flavors.
“As soon as I walked into that kitchen, I felt like an beginner baker,” she stated. “I felt prefer it was anybody’s sport, irrespective of how a lot expertise you could have.”
Nguyen’s taste was a smoked butterscotch latte, and he or she determined to showcase her Asian tradition with a milk bun with a coffee-flavored diplomat cream filming, a smoked butterscotch glaze and chocolate on prime.
“I actually needed to suppose outdoors the bun, since I knew everybody would make a cinnamon roll. So for the primary dessert I needed to deliver on my Asian-fusion twist as an introduction for the judges,” she stated.
The Englewood native scored excessive reward from the movie star judges – chef Carla Corridor, pastry chef Duff Goldman and chef Nancy Fuller – for her creativity. However she fell brief because the winner.
Subsequent up, the bakers needed to create a Thanksgiving-themed Swiss roll. Nguyen’s Swiss roll used chocolate cake and a spiced berry jam filling, which she stated was impressed by the cranberry jam she makes for her sisters each Thanksgiving. She adorned the xmas log with turkeys made out of choux pastry dough, however they ended up wanting extra like swans, in accordance with the judges.
This dessert was much less profitable for the judges, who stated the cake was a bit too crumbly for his or her liking. Fuller added that the jam was too tart. And it almost despatched Nguyen house.
“I targeted an excessive amount of on the execution, and it got here again to chew me,” Nguyen stated. “I most likely would have finished extra of a chantilly cream filling with the cranberry, however I wouldn’t have modified the jam, even when it was too tart for Nancy Fuller.”
Nguyen ended up within the backside two for her Swiss roll, however evaded elimination ultimately. “The judges’ criticism had nothing on what I’ve heard from my household,” she joked. She’s going to go on to compete in opposition to the remaining bakers, however wouldn’t spill any spoilers on whether or not she makes it via all seven of the subsequent episodes, which air each Monday.
“I might have hated to be the primary to be eradicated and never have the ability to showcase what I do know I can do properly,” Nguyen stated. “I do know that I’m a couple of unhealthy execution, and I’ve loads to supply. There’s a lot extra I needed to share on this competitors.”
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