The show was really good. However, the vote-off was in poor taste. I think the producers should have thought a little harder about that one. A secret ballot would have been much more appropriate.

I love the cake challenges but in the tradition of reality shows , the producers are going for the RATINGS. This really is dissapointing.

The voting thing was out right tacky. What is next a cake fight?

I'm rooting for Bronwen - I absolutely love her. Her cake was awesome! I do think that Cake Girls' cake was a little better because it was so colorful and unique. I want Bronwen to win, though! The others are so talented, too! It's definitely going to be a tough competition!

Yeah - I said in my first post that I thought the "Vote-off" was a tacky move - you could see that the competitors were very upset about having to judge and discard one of their contemporaries. I think that the competitors all have alot of respect for each other from being on the same circut. I know that on Ace of Cakes, Duff has talked about how much he looks up to Mike McCarrey and Collete Peters as mentors and has called on them for help with different cakes his shop has had to work on. I know from Cake Camp that Bronwen, Norm Davis and Nicholas Lodge all have tremendous respect for each others work. I think that Food Network should foster that instead of breaking it down.

Mary and her sister have true talent and by far are the best of this bunch. I loved Elisa's dress cake. I just feel like we are watching the same people and the same drama over and over again! I guess that is why they had to really twist things around with the voting off and such. Well, more to come in the next few weeks!

You know, Norman suffered a stroke and that is why they had to add Michelle in at the end too. Both Courtney and Michelle were last minute add ins for Marina and Norman and their recent tragedies.

Oh my . Is Norman okay?

Ahhhh, now Im ticked! I went through the forums trying to find a post about the challenge and couldnt find one except the one saying that it was coming on. I totally missed this one somehow. I am a mess somedays!

I really liked the idea for the challenge, but agree that the show has gotten a little weird. It used to be all about cake. Now its about mystery clients, finding your way back to the studio, and cake drama. I agree that it harbors anomosity between the decorators.

I thought that curveball, making the decorators vote off the loser was kinda dumb too. I mean seriously? This is not survivor! Its cake decorating! We would watch the show even if there wasnt any cake drama! Besides I thought for sure that they were going to vote off Bronwen, just because they wanted to get rid of the best decorator so they wouldnt have to compete against her.

Everyone's cake was beautiful. Even Michelle's cake was a very classy simplistic design. Everyones interpretation of "tell your life story" is something different. Some did their cake life, some their entire life, some just did a whole bunch of their favorite things.

I did love Mary's giant M, but I am biased. I love Mary, shes my cake crush . I loved the Amazing Wedding Cakes show just cause she was in it. Dont get me wrong I like the rest of them too! Bronwen is awesome, and probably the most like me. And the rest have their strengths and weaknesses, but I love them all. I am super excited to see next week, and hope that the producers dont have them jumping through too many hoops, and they just stick to the cake!

First I'd like to say, they are all wonderful decorators/artist...and everyone is right, we each tell our own stories the way we see life, that is what makes the world go round. Granted I was surprised that Michelle's cake was on the dark side, with no color, this is not her...but I could see that she was trying to "show" her other side, she was brave enough to go the limit. My heart went out to her on her pit fall.

I really dont think the judges should have let them decided on who would leave the challenge, it should have been handled different, maybe audience feed back, something other than how it was done. Its hard when it comes from the judges, but to come from one of there own so close. I was in shock.

I still stand by each and everyone one of them...and hope that this disappointment doesnt stop them, but makes them more determined.

So sorry to hear about Norman, I really like him. I agree with everyone else, making the decorators vote like that was in really bad taste, it showed a total lack of class. I also didn't like the host(whatever his name is?) saying that the winner would be known as America's best decorator!!!! How can he say that when there are so many wonderful cake decorators who are not participating in this challenge. I sometimes feel that people should engage their brains in first gear before opening their mouths, maybe then the world would be a nicer place.

Maybe at the end of the next one, instead of a public 'you've been voted off the island...', they'll have buttercream wrestling or something! (hey, it's all about ratings, right?)

Hmmm... Round 1, Bronwen vs. Mary in a pool of chocolate buttercream!

*snicker*

I really enjoyed the show but I agree I think it was distasteful they should have done a secret ballot. That was for ratings but I don't think the ratings would have been less if it was a secret ballot. I felt for them.

I agree wholeheartedly about the voting-off. Very distasteful. Elise breathed a sigh of relief when she didn't have to vote and I don't blame her one bit. BTW can anyone tell me what happened to Marina?? I didn't know she was replaced.

All I have to say is:

GO MARY

GO CAKE GIRLS

GO MARY

GO CAKE GIRLS

They kick butt!

mariu,
Marina's mother passed away recently.

FeGe_Cakes, I'm with ya 100%!!
Go Cake Girls, Go!

I was pretty disappointed with the voting-off. My husband--it totally offended his moral sensibilities. I do think that it is unfortunate that FN wants to promote drama instead of cake. I do think that the decorators in general have a lot more respect and admiration for the others work than a lot of the cattiness that is portrayed on the show. I love all of these decorators. I just bought one of Elise's books for my niece for Christmas, and she couldn't put it down. She poured over the pictures for hours.
I will still be watching next week.

I'm new here so please be gentle. I do LOVE Marys work always. But I thought it looked more like a centerpiece then a "cake". I just didn't get it.

I also don't understand what I'm seeing when it appears that they've formed their gum paste piece and two seconds later it's holding shape and their painting them. Can someone explain please?

I loved Mary's cake!! I think that's why she won...because it DIDN'T look like a cake and it was so unique and different.

Really looking forward to next week!

Loved this challenge and the competitors. I do lean towards Mary's style because I can relate with her in that she has never been to a pastry school but is self taught. I loved her skulls and the techniques she used for her "paintings". Also, I have about 10 Challenges recorded and as a newbie I glean from every trick I see these decorators use. I, too, would like to see more substance in the making of the cake and less drama from the competitors. Can't wait for the next challenges.

I watch because I am fascinated by the talent and want to catch a glimps of how these cakes are made. Not for the drama. Another reality TV show is not what I had hoped for. I can understand why some well know decorators would not want to be involved in this show. Don't you wonder when you watch some of these reality shows, why someone would do a show like this. I think if it gets to dramatic they will be hard pressed to find high quality decorators to do the show a second time. These are well respected professionals in their fields. I cannot imagine building a reputation as they have and then going onto national TV to be publicly humiliated by your piers.

Oh, I have another question.

I'd like to look at these marvelous cakes longer and with more detail then they sometimes show. Is there a site where I could see the cakes from all the challenges?

Unfortunately, these professionals will probably not know how they are being portrayed until the final cuts. And I agree that they have the utmost respect for each other and that it is evident in their faces. It is painful for me to watch them be put in such uncomfortable positions. I will watch again, but if the show continues on this path, they will probably loose me as a viewer. If it is not about cake and the passion for the art, I think I will become bored pretty quickly. For me baking is an expression of art, something I can get lost in and forget the trauma and drama of everyday life. Isn't this a great escape! The community here at CC is so positive and encouraging, even to a beginner like me. I think this show may not represent the true culture of this community.

Stitches, just google - food network challenge cakes . You can get some nice close ups. Didn't find any from the newest challenge, though.

Thought I'd post these in all 3 threads in case someone hasn't seen it Smile

Hey did you all see what the next episodes are going to be about?

Last Cake Standing: Elopment Cakes
Part 2 of 4. The Five remaining competitors take a field trip to City Hall where they meet a couple who is getting married that very morning. Not only will the competitors stand as witnesses at the ceremony, they must create a wedding cake for the newlywed's reception party that night.

The FN website does not show the synopsis for eposide 3 or 4 so I found these on tv guide online:

Last Cake Standing: Extreme Superhero Cakes
Part 3 of 4. The four remaining competitors are paired up to create cakes based on original superheroes, and they must incorporate extreme elements, such as mechanics and fireworks. The losing team will compete in a sudden-death cake-off to secure a spot in the finals.

Last Cake Standing: Sweet 16 Sextuplets
Conclusion. The three finalists have 24 hours to make 5-foot-tall birthday cakes for a set of sextuplets who are turning 16. Then the winner of the $50,000 grand prize is announced.

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For those who haven't seen the first one (there still doing re-runs) Here's the synopsis from FN's website:
Part 1 of 4:
In this first competition, it begins with six pastry chefs who think they have eight hours to showcase their skill and prove why they are the best of the best. Their task is to tell one story of their life in cake.

Does anyone know where I can find a picture of the cake that Mary Maher made for the Sweet Sextruplets?

Even though I really wanted Courtney to win I think Mary and her sister did an amaizing job.

Please reply anyone???