Food Network is premiering a new baking competition series “Next Baking Master: Paris” May 6 — and this time it takes place in, you guessed it, Paris, where 10 American bakers will face off all while having access to pastry shops and French baking mentors to improve their craft. Three of the 10 bakers are from New Jersey.
First up is Joe Settepani from Morganville who is a pastry chef and owner of Bruno’s Bakery & Gelateria in Freehold which specializes in occasion cakes, wedding cakes, catering and dessert tables. According to the bakery’s official site, it is a family-operated business which has been around since 1973.
Next up is Robert Toland from Willingboro. According to his LinkedIn, one of his most recent roles was as he the executive pastry chef at Garces Group. He also appears to have recently left his job at Terrain Cafe — which has locations in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maryland and California — where he worked for five years.
The final contestant from the Garden State is Jennalyn Walbot from Union who runs pop-up restaurant, Bar None, with her husband Joshua Walbot, which is currently housed in Next Door Provisions in Jersey City.
“Next Baking Master: Paris” will be hosted by world-renowned pastry chef Stephanie Boswell and French-born chef and restaurateur Ludo Lefebvre. Each week, the lowest performing baker will be sent home until one is left and crowned the Next Baking Master.
“This Paris experience is a once-in-a-lifetime dream for the chefs,” Boswell said in a statement. “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,” Lefebvre added. “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.”
Saleah Blancaflor may be reached at sblancaflor@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @saleyley and Instagram.