EXCLUSIVE: Food Network is about to launch another culinary competition — and this one is taking place in the city of lights.
Next Baking Master: Paris will give 10 American bakers access to iconic pastry shops and French baking mentors in the new competition premiering May 6. Hosted by pastry chef Stephanie Boswell and French-born chef and restaurateur Ludo Lefebvre, the series followers the competitors as they attempt to improve their technique, artistry, and innovation with making confections.
Each week, the lowest performing baker will be sent home until only one is named Next Baking Master.
“As the world’s attention turns to the city of lights leading up to this summer’s Olympic games, Paris is not only a location in Next Baking Master: Paris, it’s a main character,” said Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery. ”From walking the banks of the Seine to gain inspiration for romantic chocolate desserts to exploring the Paris farmers’ markets with their bountiful fresh produce, viewers will experience this incredible city though the eyes of our competitors.”
The 10 bakers competing set to compete are DeAndra Bailey (Baltimore, Maryland); Brooke De Jong (Dothan, Alabama); Jeremy Intille (Minneapolis, Minnesota); Lindsay Miller (Los Angeles, California); Keely Moore (Atlanta, Georgia); Paige Nickless (Brooklyn, New York); Joe Settepani (Morganville, New Jersey); Cedrick Simpson (Atlanta, Georgia); Robert Toland (Willingboro, New Jersey) and Jennalyn Walbolt (Union, New Jersey).
“This Paris experience is a once-in-a-lifetime dream for the chefs,” said Boswell. “As a professional pastry chef, I know the inspiration they received by visiting the city’s most renowned patisseries and meeting the supremely talented experts was life-changing for these up-and-comers.”
“Though my culinary career and restaurants brought me to the United States more than 20 years ago, I was born, raised and grew up as a chef in France,” added Lefebvre. “It’s so cool to now welcome these competitors to Paris to live and breathe the amazing baking and pastry culture the city offers – it’s the best in the world. I am so excited.”
Next Baking Master: Paris is produced by Butternut for Food Network.