I heard the bride make the comment that she thought Marys cake was old fashioned, I can't remember her exact words but it will be on rerun Sunday...we can catch it again.and I did not see BronWIN cry she just worked hard to get something on top to meet height requirements.....I spell her name BronWIN ....................... meow

I think alot of the reactions we saw from all of the artist were based on stress, exhaustion, and emotional overload. These last two shows were almost too painful to watch. You have to remember that these people are ARTISTS. It's so hard to do what they do under normal circumstances, much less, having to this all on the fly and with crippling time constraints. This last show, they were stripped of their assistants, and then paired up with their COMPETITORS. So now you have alot of strong personalitys, who are used to making all the decisions themselves, banging into each other and having a hard time swallowing their pride enough to collaborate. Most artists are not real good at being followers, and way prefer to follow their own instincts, which is what got them where they are in the first place.
Mary even said it, (in tears), how sad and painful it was for her to see her cake, "go away". Actually, she cried throughout the last two shows, and in the end, she was unable to let go of her own vision, and Courtney couldn't either, so they wound up with basically 2 cakes put together, and it was a miracle they were able to get it together in time. Bronwen and James had a better time of being able the work together, mostly because James was so out of his element with the whimsey of carving cartoons, and he knew and acknowledged that fact. For polar opposits in design and style, they still were able to come together as a team, defering to each others best skills and abilities for each componant. It takes alot of guts to do that with such grace. Add to that the fact that the judges are some of the VERY BEST SUGAR ARTISTS IN THE WORLD, who know the competitors abilities very well and expect nothing but the best from them. Just listen to Kerry Vincent as she repeats this over and over. Few decorators would be able to perform to thoses standards under this kind of pressure. It's gut-wenching to witness them go through this dramatic ordeal. I soo love them all and am inspired by their determination.

People, you need to realize there is $50,000 at stake!

THAT'S MORE THAN MANY PEOPLE MAKE IN A YEAR !!!

If I was doing this with all that money on the line, you betcha I'd be tired, crabby, moody... and if some silly guy kept sticking his camera in my way when I needed to do something important I'd want to punch him out!
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I don't agree with the judge's decisions all the time, but we aren't there in real life. I have heard on some challenges it comes down to just 1 or 2 points - quite often flavor, which we don't get to try.

Ok, people...I think you are all still missing the big picture here with this Last Cake Standing show. They are trying to declare the winner the best cake artist in the country which is clearly impossible to state since the "best" in the country aren't in the competition!

So you want to see Kerry Vincent, Ron Ben Isreal(sp), Colette Peters or who would you recommentd to compete? Maybe it is the next best decorator being added to the list? Who would watch the best of the average decorator in America? IT IS TV! It is all in the marketing of the show.

Actually, I'd love to see Kerry compete! ) I know she's a fabulous decorator, but I'd pay money to have her compete and have Bronwen, Courtney and Ashley Vicos judge her!!

The more I think about it, the judges did the right thing. James has been the weakest link. His work is fantastic when in his niche. But as far as this competition, he was not up to par with the others. I am still disappointed in Mary and Courtney not being a bit more creative and changing something on their cakes. I am disappointed in Bronwen's comments about Mary.

I think this one bothered me so much because I thought Bronwen should have won the "personal" cake competition and then to do amazing work on the superhero cake (she made that Superhero cake awesome-James contributed very little) and consistently lose.

Now I will honestly say that had I not seen the "drama" and knew they were supposed to create new superheros etc.--I would have definitely picked Mary/Courtney.

I think that the right people won. If you look back at all the drawings from the begining they all pulled thing for the new cake.

How many times are we going to see a spinning cake I really did not get excited. Fire works, WOW. All things that were done before. I believe the glow in the dark was a bigger wow factor because if was something new. The detail on the Hippo was excellent.

I really want Mary to win. I love her style and I think she is great. So what she cries, I hear many of you guys crying when things are not going right with your cake. It happens. You get so stressed.

$50,000, I know i would be so stressed. Of course FN wants the drama, it make for interesting t.v. LOL

I would also pay to see Kerry in a cake-off

Why do I keep hearing that the 'glow in black light thing' is new???

It is NOT NEW!!! IT IS OVER 30 YEARS OLD!

I use it every year at Halloween. Every Halloween party I go to, uses glowing and steaming and bubbling food. Family Circle and Woman's Day has instructions on them every fall.

Have you ever seen it on challenge? NO, ok, then NEW to Challenge. Is it all that and a bag of chips, no it is old just like the cliche I just used! New use of an old idea and first used on a Challenge makes it more than fireworks and spinning same old hat stuff.

Hey Guys!

Some of you know me, some may not... I'm a fellow cake lady and Chef Bronwen's assistant. I wanted to fill you in on the level of endurance that ALL of these awesome artists have to go use to survive the cake challenges. I attend all the competitions with Bronwen and Francois, her husband and partner in crime. It is seriously a non-stop, grueling process to film these challenges. This is the first time ever that they were to be filming up to possibly 4 shows. The prep work was out of this world. Imagine trying to prepare for not just one, but all 4, not knowing if you would be there til the end or be sent home. I personally had a van full to the TOP of stuff, and drove the trip with a co-worker to Denver... Just because we had to pack the bakery, and then some! =) Once they are there, there is more prep to be done and pre-interviews. Yes, I agree - I think editing is a MAJOR factor in these shows. These guys actually adore one another, but portrayed on the show you would think they would start a buttercream war at the drop of a spatula. In a normal case, they wouldn't make it to bed until 12, 1 o'clock at night and have to be up and ready to go at the studio anywhere from 4-6 that morning. Then film ALL day... taping goes beyond just the 8 hours... We are lucky to leave the studio by 10 that night.... and with the Last Cake Standing... They had to do this every other day. They would have one day between each competition to prep for the next. I'm surprised any of them were standing at the end... forget the cakes! Last Chef Standing! I saw more coffee and energy bars being passed than I have ever in my life. I have so much admiration for any of the competitiors that take on the challenge of not only the cake, but the show as well.

Remember in the end, it's not about who said what, or who was edited to say this or that... who's fighting with who... I've gotten to know a lot of them from the Challenge series, and I really can say they are by far just amazing people. They all have a lot of respect and love for their fellow competitors and literally just a big, happy cake family!

Like I said, in the end it's just admiration for anyone who attempts to create the best masterpiece they are capable of. Kudos to them all!

Hey Guys!

Some of you know me, some may not... I'm a fellow cake lady and Chef Bronwen's assistant. I wanted to fill you in on the level of endurance that ALL of these awesome artists have to go use to survive the cake challenges. I attend all the competitions with Bronwen and Francois, her husband and partner in crime. It is seriously a non-stop, grueling process to film these challenges. This is the first time ever that they were to be filming up to possibly 4 shows. The prep work was out of this world. Imagine trying to prepare for not just one, but all 4, not knowing if you would be there til the end or be sent home. I personally had a van full to the TOP of stuff, and drove the trip with a co-worker to Denver... Just because we had to pack the bakery, and then some! =) Once they are there, there is more prep to be done and pre-interviews. Yes, I agree - I think editing is a MAJOR factor in these shows. These guys actually adore one another, but portrayed on the show you would think they would start a buttercream war at the drop of a spatula. In a normal case, they wouldn't make it to bed until 12, 1 o'clock at night and have to be up and ready to go at the studio anywhere from 4-6 that morning. Then film ALL day... taping goes beyond just the 8 hours... We are lucky to leave the studio by 10 that night.... and with the Last Cake Standing... They had to do this every other day. They would have one day between each competition to prep for the next. I'm surprised any of them were standing at the end... forget the cakes! Last Chef Standing! I saw more coffee and energy bars being passed than I have ever in my life. I have so much admiration for any of the competitiors that take on the challenge of not only the cake, but the show as well.

Remember in the end, it's not about who said what, or who was edited to say this or that... who's fighting with who... I've gotten to know a lot of them from the Challenge series, and I really can say they are by far just amazing people. They all have a lot of respect and love for their fellow competitors and literally just a big, happy cake family!

Like I said, in the end it's just admiration for anyone who attempts to create the best masterpiece they are capable of. Kudos to them all!

Dear Chef Heather, Thank you so much for your giving us a clearer point of view of what really goe's on in these shows! I think maybe next time the show should have a more level point of veiw, rather than going so hard on the people who are doing their dead-level best in what is probably the toughest compitition ever. None of those people are really like the way they have been portrayed in those "interveiws." There is some "poetic licence" being used for the dramatic. I also think there is plenty enough drama just in the creation of such wonderful cakes being created by the best decorators we all know and love. They have worked really hard for along time to develop their skills, and it's a priviledge just to watch them in action! Kudos to all the decorators! Thanks for all your hard work and dedication to their field!

They are all great. Mary, Courtney and Bronwen. But I do have to admit that I am such a fan of Bronwen. I also love courtney, she's such a nice person. I think Bronwen still needs to show her best cake, In the challenges I thought she could have done better.

Normally I am a lurker and rarely post, but something compelled me to chime in and say that I had the pleasure of taking a class this year with Bronwen and her husband.
I am a newbie to this and was nervous about taking a class from a well known pastry chef, so much so, I dragged my husband with me. During the 3 days of class I had a lot of fun and learned quite a bit from her and Francois. She was very personable and relatable and even a bit shy about her "celebrity" status whenever anyone mentioned her tv appearances.
Anyway, while I was there, someone in class asked her about the Food Network competitions and she touched briefly on an intense competition that she just finished. I am not sure if it was "The last Cake Standing" but she said what ChefHeather said. She said the days are long, with prepping not only for the cake part of the competition, but for the tv part as well (interviews). She wouldn't tell us anything about the show except that she was working against very talented pastry chefs/artists that she respected very much.
I never saw any "diva-type" personality, just someone who really has a lot passion for her career!
As for the comments during the interview portion, I think that was creative editing. She has razor-sharp wit and a great sense of humor that I believe was taken out of context.
Rock on Bronwen!!!

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Thanks Chef Heather for the inside scoop. I think they are all working terribly hard and deserve credit for how far they have come. I really admire Bronwen.....however I have changed her name spelling it as BronWIN now hehehe.......best of luck!!!!

This may be a really stupid question, but here goes!!! Where do they get the cake layers that they use? The shows always start with them having to come up with an idea right there on the spot, then the clock starts and they have to execute their idea.

So, again, where do the cakes come from? Are there already a bunch of pre-baked cakes in different shapes and sizes for them to choose from?

Maybe Chef Heather can chime in if no one else knows.

Thanks!

I'm pretty sure they have to bring the cakes on their own... I assume they just come prepared with every type they may think they'll need. Or maybe they bring something like large sheet cakes that can be carved to whatever shape they want...

It takes the contestants days to make everything before they come. I've seen many times that something was either left behind or broken. I'm sure it take them quite a bit of money for the supplies.

I think most of the time they come with a preconceived idea of what they're going to do, then they taylor it for the particular theme. For instance, Mary was going to do eggs for that wedding cake challenge, no matter what. She added the golf theme and made a few minor cangs, but her stand and the cakes were designed specifically for that set-up. They all, pretty much do that. Just like James bringing in flowers...

I am pretty sure they bring there cakes already made, and then they have cake tastings too, so sometimes they say they are dry .....that makes me feel good LOL, I do that now and again meself

Although I do think it would be quite amusing to see Kerry in a challenge, there are other challengers like Norm, Marina and Mike, to name a few, that if included in Last Cake Standing would have actually warranted the title "best cake decorator in the country." And as far as Mary's so called revelation to use a piping gel that actually glows in the dark...none of the gel she piped on did infact glow under the blacklight. What a earth shattering conclusion it is to realize that anything white glows under blacklight--amazing! If you noticed at all, the details on Mary's cake that glowed were all of the details in white, not really rocket science people.

I do agree with so many of you that Browen should have won the first challenge. Her set-up was so unique and told a better story then Mary's.

Don't get me wrong, I think Mary is amazing, but I do think she has taken all three of the previous challenges and done exactly what she had planned and practiced before the competition started.

On the other hand I think Browen adapted to the challenges and made cakes that she had not planned out. Of course, the first cake was her original idea, but both the second and third were designed and executed on the fly. To me that makes her cakes more impressive then Mary's.

As for her looking tired and having dark circles, I wonder if she may have a bun in the oven (and I'm not talking cake!). Just a thought.

I'm amazed at the amount of "newbies" that have found this thread and are responding to it. No offense, I have never seen this many on one thread before.