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So… No Pressure or Anything…

April 12, 2010 by Joy the Baker 66 Comments

Pillsbury Bake Off 

I’m at the Pillsbury Bake Off in Orlando, Florida.  There are 100 finalists here… dicing, slicing, frying, baking and otherwise stressing out in a giant hotel ballroom.  At stake?  One.  Million.  Dollars.  In their faces?   Cameras.  Lots of cameras.  

Me?  I’m not baking.  Not baking a thing.  Thank heavens.  I’m not a competitive baker.  Just the thought of competitive food production makes me want to crumble.

Pillsbury Bake Off 

The 93 women and 7 men competing here  at the 44th Annual Pillsbury Bake Off are champions.  Cooking with this sort of pressure and media is a looooong way from home cooking.  

Want to see what this whole shindig looks like?  It’s serious business.  

Pillsbury Bake Off 

Camera crews, lighting dudes, sound men and journalist ladies all gear up for the four hour long competition over breakfast.  

Pillsbury Bake Off 

Hardcore branding.  Hardcore advertising.  Mega sponsorship.  Loads of contestants and family and annoying bloggers like me milling about.  

Pillsbury Bake Off 

Pre Bake Off… some dudes are giving me camera envy.  

Pillsbury Bake Off 

Know what the Bake Off has taught me?   That husbands are super awesome!  Here’s one hubby taking a picture of his wife’s finished product slot.  I can’t tell you how many conversations I’ve overheard between anxious husbands.  Tender moments.  Serious tenderness. 

Pillsbury Bake Off 

There are cameras exactly everywhere.  

Pillsbury Bake Off 

Before the grand entrance of the hundred contestants, the ballroom smells like new ovens and photographers.  It’s complex.  

Pillsbury Bake Off 

Moms.  Sisters.  Grandmas.  Husbands.  All getting ready for the entrance of the BakeOff-ers.  

Pillsbury Bake Off 

Blue aprons.  Finalist ribbons.  Smiling faces.  I think I might me almost as nervous as they are. How utterly self indulgent of me. 

Pillsbury Bake Off 

You’re pretty and you’re baking.  Go!  Fight!  Win!

Pillsbury Bake Off 

Super concentration.  

Pillsbury Bake Off 

Every competitors cabinets are stocked with the exact ingredients they need for their recipe.  Whomever stocked these cabinets… I’d like to hire you to be my permanent sous chef.  Please and thank you.

Pillsbury Bake Off 

Um… this lady looks like she might be peeking at her neighbors work.  Is that allowed? 

Pillsbury Bake Off 

There are plenty of little gentlemen like this cheering on their mothers.  Kinda precious.  

Also… old man elbow.  These things can’t be avoided.  

Pillsbury Bake Off 

There’s a lot going on back there. 

Pillsbury Bake Off 

And there’s a lot going out here.  

Pillsbury Bake Off 

So… no pressure or anything.  I know you’re trying to win a million dollars, but it’s interview time.  

Pillsbury Bake Off 

Just look at how graceful and lovely JoAnn is.  Pretty smile.  Hands clasped.  Finalist ribbon gleaming in the camera lights.  These people are lovely and gracious home cooks.  Their families are buzzing with excitement.  It’s such an exhilirating event to be a part of.  

Pillsbury Bake Off 

Four winners are being announced later tonight.  The grand prize winner of the Pillsbury Bake Off is being announced live on Oprah tomorrow afternoon.  Whaat!?  Yea.  Crazytown.  That’s happening.  

Thank you to Pillsbury for generously flying to to Orlando to take dorky pictures of your grand Bake Off. That sure was swell of you.  

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. eatingRD

    April 12, 2010 at 8:34 pm

    wow, that looks intense, but fun! I actually have one of the older bake off cookbooks mmm just found your site, love your photography and food :)

    Reply
  2. jaclyn@todayslady

    April 12, 2010 at 7:47 pm

    Awwww I love how the husbands are so proud of their wives!!! So cute!!

    Reply
  3. Nicole

    April 12, 2010 at 7:45 pm

    UMMMMMMM. Teaching, baking, cooking, bloging, writing, & attending the Bake off!!! So so so so want to move to SoCal and attend an on the lamb party. You are living the life!!! Excited and proud of you… keep it coming :)

    Reply
  4. FoodFitnessFreshair

    April 12, 2010 at 7:38 pm

    This sounds like such a fun event to attend! I’m not sure I could handle the pressure as a baker either, but I’m sure it’s more than rewarding of an experience!

    Reply
  5. ++MIRA++

    April 12, 2010 at 6:35 pm

    wowza.mustve been electric and exciting! cooking in front of cameras is crazy.its like ur being electrocuted as u bake.lol. also, thx for the old man elbow. i hadnt seen one in a while.:)

    Reply
  6. colleen @ sweetswallows

    April 12, 2010 at 5:39 pm

    That looks exciting and terrifying at the same time! I love the sweet husbands and children. That kinda stuff makes my heart get all goosebumpy. Have fun in Orlando!

    Reply
  7. Katrina

    April 12, 2010 at 5:38 pm

    Bahh I wish you were in this! PLEASE do it next year!

    Reply
  8. Lizzie

    April 12, 2010 at 5:13 pm

    My great-grandmother did this, and was a finalist! She won a stove and a free trip to New York to stay at the Waldorf Astoria. No million dollars, but she still did get a pretty snazzy portrait taken of herself and her chocolate wedge cookies. We have it hanging in our kitchen–something to aspire to, definitely!

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      April 12, 2010 at 5:16 pm

      So awesome Lizzie! Sweet sweet sweet. Your comment put a smile on my face!

      Reply
  9. Jess

    April 12, 2010 at 2:39 pm

    Maybe. Someday. If I’m ever that cool.

    Reply
  10. Sarah Friedrich

    April 12, 2010 at 2:36 pm

    That looks like so much fun!
    Did you get to meet any of the contestants?

    Reply
  11. Maegan M

    April 12, 2010 at 1:36 pm

    Hey Joy! I love your blog, you are super adorable! I never posted a comment before, and this is totally unrelated to the Pillsbury baking competition… but I found this at Urban Outfitters and I remember somewhere you talked about loving jean leggings? Behold:

    https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/category.jsp?_DARGS=/urban/catalog/common/highlited_itemcount.jsp_A&_DAV=true&itemCount=60&navCount=7&navAction=poppushpush&popId=WOMENS&pushId=W_BOTTOMS&id=W_APP_JEANS&100412hp

    Best of luck in all your endeavors!

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      April 12, 2010 at 5:18 pm

      I love you. Seriously.

      Reply
  12. Missy

    April 12, 2010 at 1:20 pm

    That put a knot in my stomach just looking at your photos. How fun though, what an exciting day!

    Reply
  13. lani trock

    April 12, 2010 at 1:20 pm

    it made me nervous and excited just reading this.
    i also loathe competitive/rushed/timed cooking.
    i definitely do not thrive in this pressured environment.
    i need need need to take my time in the kitchen:)
    slow food=good food.
    on that note, time to saunter over to the weho farmer’s market:)

    thank you for another awesome monday inspiration:)

    Reply
  14. Allison from "a for aubergine"

    April 12, 2010 at 12:52 pm

    how fascinating! i’ve seen this on the food network a couple of times but i love this behind-the-scenes stuff, joy! i bet it smelled so friggin’ good!

    Reply
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