Meet the new batch of contestants for New Zealand's Hottest Home Baker.
Flamboyant boy-about-town Colin Mathura-Jeffree reckons he gained a "bulging muffin-top" while hosting last year's first season of Nestle New Zealand's Hottest Home Baker. "I can judge an episode on how much weight I gained," says the 39-year-old, who has since shed the kilos. But he's fine with repeating this occupational hazard. "What brought me back for this second season was remembering how wonderful everything smelled last time."
The pies and puddings, slices and squares didn't look half bad either, as mum Toni Causley outbaked her opponents (including runner-up Emma Freeman and her vodka fruitcake) to take home the début title and a $20,000 dream kitchen. The series returns to TV3 this Thursday and judging the efforts of the eight new faces is internationally renowned baker Dean Brettschneider, alongside new face Jade Lipton, an Aussie boutique-cake businesswoman known as the "Cake Star".
On set, there are those familiar pink kitchen pods, a scrummy-looking strudel and the eight contestants: some seemingly zen, others palpably nervous. Let's meet them.
Desiree De Courcy
The 46-year-old mum, who knows all about patisserie from a stint living in France, bakes at least weekly. Her signature dish is traditional French macaroons, filled with almonds, chocolate ganache or coffee-flavoured butter cream. She stays trim thanks to the gym and running around Auckland's Cornwall Park - and after her 3-year-old. "I am a bit nervous, thinking 'what have I let myself in for, is the standard going to be too high for me, what's the time pressure going to be like?'," she admits. But since she's about to renovate her house, she has her eyes firmly on that kitchen prize.
Catherine Rawnsley
At 35, Pukekohe cattle farmer Catherine is a bit quiet - until she starts talking about a certain family tradition. "Nana was the greatest home baker ever and my dad once cooked for the Queen." Forget fancy friands: Catherine likes her baking traditional. She's known for her slices, but her piece de resistance is neenish tart "with crisp pastry, chocolate icing and tangy lemon filling". Baking giant batches for her farming community makes her one popular lady.
Gretchen Lowe
The 34-year-old events project manager is in it to win it. "I see it as a stepping stone to a baking career." Her signature dish is French chocolate cake, aka "the black beast", with sour cherries and macadamias. "I'm really into decadence."
Stephen Christian
Yes, Stephen is the only male in the kitchen. "It is a little bit intimidating, but I think it gives me an edge. I'm a dark force. Most people probably won't expect me to do very well." Because baking's seen as girly? "Yeah, as a 'mum thing'. My own mum handed her own tricks down ... to her son!" This 26-year-old sales administrator is certainly confident. "My baking stands out because it's always a bit unique." Like his own spin on chocolate macaroon slice, with a malt biscuit or shortbread base. "I don't like to stick to recipes. I see where it can be made better, richer, tastier - and I make it mine."
Paula Midgley
This 40-year-old from Kumeu is the self-confessed Queen of Chocolate. Appropriately enough, her signature dish is decadent mudcake: chocolate and cherry, or white chocolate and raspberry. "My husband tells me to not worry about what it looks like. But my baking has to look as good as it tastes and taste as good as it looks!" Somehow, this wedding-gown designer/mum-of-four bakes at least four times a week. "I find it therapeutic; it's a passion, not a chore."
Chelsea Hawke
Chelsea ("like the sugar") has a headstart on the pack: David Tua pronounced her gooey chocolate raspberry brownies O For Awesome at a mutual friend's BBQ. This 22-year-old "home executive" bakes at least three times a week for her son's kindy lunchbox - and herself. "There's no point baking if you can't indulge," she says.
Dyani Ellwood
For Dyani, baking is pure escapism. "It helps me unwind at night." As a journalist, drama teacher and mum-of-one, it's a wonder she can find the time. "My husband calls me a loony, but I find baking extremely relaxing and calming." It's also a family tradition. With an Austrian grandmother who carried sausages in her apron and a mother who always baked, it's definitely in the blood. Her trademarks are slices and squares; her signature dish is perfect caramel square, which she bakes weekly.
Carolyn Wall
"I can bake the pants off everyone I know!" says North Shore mum Carolyn Wall, who might be nervous about the time pressure involved but not about her skills. Pastries are her specialty; apple-and-custard Danish pastries her signature dish. Now 33, Carolyn got trained young, learning to bake instead of going to kindy - and was the designated bowl-licker among her siblings. And she plans to teach her 1-year-old to bake in the same way - once baby can hold the mixing spoon.
Season two of Nestle New Zealand's Hottest Home Baker airs on TV3 Thursday at 7.30pm.
-Herald On Sunday / View
