Get lost in the indulgent world of chocolate with Great Chocolate Showdown, a new serialized dessert competition series that puts 10 home bakers to the test. Each week the bakers will be tasked with a range of exciting chocolate-based challenges to create sweet treats that must tantalize the taste buds of esteemed judges: television personality and best-selling cookbook author Anna Olson, award-winning British cake designer Cynthia Stroud and renowned pastry chef and chocolatier Steven Hodge. Great Chocolate Showdown makes its decadent debut February 4 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network Canada.
Following a North America-wide search, 10 home bakers have earned a ticket to the Great Chocolate Showdown, representing from coast to coast, including Los Angeles, Calif., Vancouver, B.C., Dallas, Texas, Saskatoon Sask., New York City, N.Y., Montreal, Que. and more. The 10 competitors confirmed to compete for the title of Great Chocolate Showdown champion are:
- Trinity Andrew, 27 – Los Angeles, Calif.
- Kathy Choffe, 49 – Aurora, Ont.
- Casey Hallen, 32 – New York City, N.Y.
- Andrew Keen, 37 – Falls Church, Va.
- T Lawrence-Simon, 31 – Somerville, Mass.
- Venessa Liang, 27 –Saskatoon, Sask.
- Renu Matthew, 44 – Olds, Alta.
- Fadi Odeh, 36 – Dallas, Texas
- Katie Rochin, 21– Montreal, Que.
- Craig Taylor, 47 – Vancouver, B.C.
Each week the talented batch of bakers will face with a range of creative and exciting chocolate-based competitions that will test their sweet imaginations and put their baking skills to the test. These challenges include everything from creating an out-of-this-world chocolate creation with a galactic mirror finish and baking an over-the-top spectacle cake, to reimagining a classic campfire treat and creating a chocolate confection with a spicy kick. Some of the bakers may melt under the pressure and only one will taste sweet victory by claiming the title of Great Chocolate Showdown champion and the $50,000 grand prize.
Purdys Chocolatier joins as the official chocolate sponsor for Great Chocolate Showdown. Throughout all eight episodes the pantry will be stocked with Purdys products crafted from sustainable cocoa. The brand is also featured in four integrated episode challenges where the competitors will use some of the most popular Purdys items to make their own ooey-gooey, yummy and chewy creations.
On foodnetwork.ca, viewers can learn more about the series and its cast and competitors, see exclusive behind-the-scenes photos, recipes and delicious how-tos with the judges after the episodes air. Fans can also watch full episodes online after broadcast at foodnetwork.ca/shows/great-chocolate-showdown.
