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.
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.
Camera crews, lighting dudes, sound men and journalist ladies all gear up for the four hour long competition over breakfast.
Hardcore branding. Hardcore advertising. Mega sponsorship. Loads of contestants and family and annoying bloggers like me milling about.
Pre Bake Off… some dudes are giving me camera envy.
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.
There are cameras exactly everywhere.
Before the grand entrance of the hundred contestants, the ballroom smells like new ovens and photographers. It’s complex.
Moms. Sisters. Grandmas. Husbands. All getting ready for the entrance of the BakeOff-ers.
Blue aprons. Finalist ribbons. Smiling faces. I think I might me almost as nervous as they are. How utterly self indulgent of me.
You’re pretty and you’re baking. Go! Fight! Win!
Super concentration.
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.
Um… this lady looks like she might be peeking at her neighbors work. Is that allowed?
There are plenty of little gentlemen like this cheering on their mothers. Kinda precious.
Also… old man elbow. These things can’t be avoided.
There’s a lot going on back there.
And there’s a lot going out here.
So… no pressure or anything. I know you’re trying to win a million dollars, but it’s interview time.
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.
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.
eatingRD
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 :)
jaclyn@todayslady
Awwww I love how the husbands are so proud of their wives!!! So cute!!
Nicole
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 :)
FoodFitnessFreshair
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!
++MIRA++
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.:)
colleen @ sweetswallows
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!
Katrina
Bahh I wish you were in this! PLEASE do it next year!
Lizzie
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!
joythebaker
So awesome Lizzie! Sweet sweet sweet. Your comment put a smile on my face!
Jess
Maybe. Someday. If I’m ever that cool.
Sarah Friedrich
That looks like so much fun!
Did you get to meet any of the contestants?
Maegan M
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!
joythebaker
I love you. Seriously.
Missy
That put a knot in my stomach just looking at your photos. How fun though, what an exciting day!
lani trock
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:)
Allison from "a for aubergine"
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!