After last week’s heart pounding episode and not much “face time” for Chef Dana, this week’s mini challenge was…(drum roll please)… Cupcake!!
Each contestant had to pick-up a tray and inside each of the tray, was the clue of what flavor they have to make. Chef Dana’s clue? Sponges! So of course sponge cake we go! They had 3 hours to prepare.
After the time was up, Buddy and Joe came in and went around the table to taste the cake. Then it was Sugar Daddy’s turn. Chef Dana made the Sponge Cupcake with Cream Cheese Icing and Banana Pecan Topping. According to Buddy the icing was G-O-O-D but the cake wasn’t spongy enough.
“It didn’t bounce back, bro!” As Buddy stated. Oh well…we know it wasn’t the worst one though.
Megan won the challenge where Joe, and surprisingly Greggy, were in the bottom two.
The challenge of the day was a Monopoly Cake to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Monopoly brand. It cannot get any more fun than this. As the winner, Megan got to pick her teammates. Guess who she chose? Of course – our own awesome Dana “Sugar Daddy” Herbert, and Jay. What a great choice, Megan!
So each team had 3 hours that night and 8 hours the day after. “Team Megan” worked smoothly together while there was a lot of drama on “Team Joe”. Corina and Joe just couldn’t get along, while poor Johanna was simply minding her own business. Pam, who was the runner-up for the cupcake challenge, was captaining “Team Pam” and featuring a lot of greens on her cake – but team members Greggy and Brian seemed rather content under Pam’s Leadership.
This Monopoly cake had to be a big cake. According to Buddy, this kind of cake typically takes 2 full days and the contestants only had 11 hours. The time crunch must have stressed everyone because things got pretty heated in the kitchen with Corina and Joe screaming at each other. “Team Megan” was struggling a bit with the tearing fondant.
“It’s just a hot mess”, Jay said in frustration. Poor Jay…
Everyone was tired that night as, and suddenly – time was up! Phew…time to get some rest everybody.
The next morning was a fresh new day…so we hope. “Team Joe” started the day with a group hug.
“I think the group hug was pushing it” – Corina wasn’t budging.
“Team Pam” was designing the cake with the Monopoly skyline in the background, and there wasn’t enough time to complete all that so they ended-up with one huge building on the cake. “Team Megan” was getting frazzled and needed to make a money bag. The Sugar Daddy stepped in, of course, and suddenly there a was a money bag there!
Eventually, time was up, the cakes were completed (some more than others) and the judges went around and took their notes – that was nerve-wrecking…but wait…there was more to the challenge! The teams had to actually deliver the cakes to the elimination room! Since Team Megan had the two sets of strong muscles on the team (Jay and Dana), no sweat, right?! NOT!! The cake board was too wide for the door frame. Oh no!
The two other teams smoothly delivered their cakes to the elimination room, and then there were only 7 minutes left. “Team Megan” remained absent from the room, and the drama mounted as the Hasbro client sat in waiting.
Meanwhile…after having a brainstorm moment with the team, Megan suggested to tilt the cake. You want to what?! Are you serious? But there wasn’t too much more time to waste so tilt-we-go.
“God and gravity was with us, is all I can say about that!” Jay was relieved. Quote of the day!!!
In the elimination room…it was the moment of truth. “Team Pam” was burned because of the big O on the trademark Monopoly logo. Greggy took the ownership of that. They stayed ambitious though!
“Team Joe’s” cake wasn’t very iconic of the monopoly game, and some cake structure was falling apart. Then Buddy asked about Joe’s leadership and what he contributed to the team. Once again…it was Corina and Joe’s time to feud for some reason.
“Team Megan’s” cake was the one that the judges were most happy about. There were plenty of iconic Monopoly items featured on it, and the cake was very visually appealing. Other than a misspelling of Illinois…the cake was awesome!! Isn’t there a spell-checker in the kitchen?
And the winner was… “Team Megan!” Yay to Dana, Jay, and Megan!
The losing team, to nobody’s surprise, was Joe’s. “Team Pam” did an OK job to finish 2nd. The three contestants from the losing team – Joe, Johanna and Corina – were on the hot seat. Johanna pleaded innocent to the team’s dysfunction and given a save for the day. Phew! Buddy asked Joe who should stay between Corina and him. And Joe, with his big heart, decided to quit. Despite his verbal sparring with Corina, he conceded that she was the superior cake decorator and deserved to stay. Poor Joe.
So Joe was off to the box truck!! Good luck Joe!
Everyone, be sure to tune in next week because it’s going to be the “Next Great Baker” Christmas episode!! Come join Chef Dana and the Desserts by Dana team next Monday at Sweet T’s for a viewing party. Let’s make it sweet.
’till then bloggers!
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