Food Network Challenge
Encyclopedia
Food Network Challenge is a competitive cooking television series that currently airs on the Food Network
. Each episode, professional chefs compete in a timed competition in their professional specialty. The winner receives a check for $10,000 and a gold medal.
Episodes are shot in front of a live audience, usually at tourist attraction
s such as the Mall of America
or Disney World
. Depending on the discipline and scope of the competition, the number of competitors can range from two to hundreds. Occasionally, regional competitions are held to determine who the competitors are to be each week. Some of the events are also held as world championships or as 'invitationals'.
The winner usually receives a check for $10,000 and a gold medal. In competitions featuring five or more competitors, silver and bronze medals are also sometimes awarded, though they have no cash prize.
In 2009, the show debuted its first elimination-style competition called "Last Cake Standing". In this format, six cake designers competed for a prize of $50,000
In April 2010, original host Keegan Gerhard
was promoted to judge alongside Kerry Vincent
, and was replaced as host by Claire Robinson
. The way in which the results were read also changed for most of, but not all of the shows; where previously only the winner was announced, the newer format's results began with announcing the third- and fourth-place finishers who were then asked to leave the stage before the victor was revealed.
to ice sculpting to Teppanyaki
to macaroni and cheese
, with cakes being the most frequently covered area.
In April 2011, Food Network launched a second series of Last Cake Standing, in a separate "spin-off" format with eight competitors and a $100,000 grand prize.
Food Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
. Each episode, professional chefs compete in a timed competition in their professional specialty. The winner receives a check for $10,000 and a gold medal.
Format
The competitions are judged by specialists in their culinary fields dependent upon the particular 'challenge'. Contestants are given eight hours to complete a task and must adhere to the competition rules, for example, cake competitions often require that a cake reaches a minimum height, exhibits a certain theme, and is able to be moved to a judging table without falling over. At the end of the eight hours, the host says the show's catchphrase: "Competitors, Stop Your Work".Episodes are shot in front of a live audience, usually at tourist attraction
Tourist attraction
A tourist attraction is a place of interest where tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or amusement opportunities....
s such as the Mall of America
Mall of America
The Mall of America, also called MOA and the Megamall, is a shopping mall located in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb of the Twin Cities, in the United States. It is located southeast of the junction of Interstate 494 and Minnesota State Highway 77, north of the Minnesota River and is across the...
or Disney World
Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort , is the world's most-visited entertaimental resort. Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida ; approximately southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States, the resort covers an area of and includes four theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels Walt...
. Depending on the discipline and scope of the competition, the number of competitors can range from two to hundreds. Occasionally, regional competitions are held to determine who the competitors are to be each week. Some of the events are also held as world championships or as 'invitationals'.
The winner usually receives a check for $10,000 and a gold medal. In competitions featuring five or more competitors, silver and bronze medals are also sometimes awarded, though they have no cash prize.
In 2009, the show debuted its first elimination-style competition called "Last Cake Standing". In this format, six cake designers competed for a prize of $50,000
In April 2010, original host Keegan Gerhard
Keegan Gerhard
Keegan Gerhard is an award winning pastry chef and the former host of the Food Network series Food Network Challenge. As of the tenth season, he has been replaced by Claire Robinson. Instead of being the host, he serves as a judge alongside Kerry Vincent. Gerhard is the owner and executive chef of...
was promoted to judge alongside Kerry Vincent
Kerry Vincent
Kerry Vincent, née Flynn , is the director and co-founder of the annual Oklahoma Sugar Art Show, author, and freelance writer. She is also a judge on the Food Network Challenge television show.-Career:...
, and was replaced as host by Claire Robinson
Claire Robinson
Claire Robinson is a personal chef and television host of her Food Network television show 5 Ingredient Fix. On April 4, 2010 she debuted as the new host of Food Network Challenge replacing Keegan Gerhard who hosted the program from 2005 to 2010....
. The way in which the results were read also changed for most of, but not all of the shows; where previously only the winner was announced, the newer format's results began with announcing the third- and fourth-place finishers who were then asked to leave the stage before the victor was revealed.
Competitions
The competitions presented on the program cover a wide range of areas, from cake decoratingCake decorating
Cake decorating is one of the sugar arts that uses icing or frosting and other edible decorative elements to make otherwise plain cakes more visually interesting...
to ice sculpting to Teppanyaki
Teppanyaki
is a style of Japanese cuisine that uses an iron griddle to cook food. The word teppanyaki is derived from teppan , which means iron plate, and yaki , which means grilled, broiled or pan-fried...
to macaroni and cheese
Macaroni and cheese
Macaroni and cheese, also known as "mac and cheese", "macaroni cheese" in British English, or "macaroni pie" in Caribbean English, is a casserole consisting of cooked macaroni and cheese sauce...
, with cakes being the most frequently covered area.
Last Cake Standing
In April 2009, a special version of "Challenge" was launched called Last Cake Standing. This series began with six competitors, with an elimination at the end of each episode until only three competitors remained. The challenges in this series were often harder and longer and with more twists than those in the 'normal' series. The finale was the longest in challenge history (24 hours)and saw the champion (Mary Maher), win a $50,000 grand prize.In April 2011, Food Network launched a second series of Last Cake Standing, in a separate "spin-off" format with eight competitors and a $100,000 grand prize.
Notable competitors
- Mary Maher (winner of Last Cakes Standing 2009)
- Mike McCarey (Mike's Amazing Cakes)
- Duff GoldmanDuff GoldmanJeffrey Adam "Duff" Goldman is a pastry chef and television personality. He is the executive chef of the Baltimore-based Charm City Cakes shop which is featured in the Food Network reality television show Ace of Cakes...
(of Ace of CakesAce of CakesAce of Cakes is an American reality television show which airs on the Food Network. The show focuses on the daily operations of Duff Goldman's custom cake shop, Charm City Cakes, in Baltimore, Maryland; including small-business ownership, working with various vendors, tasting with customers,...
) - Lori Hutchinson of The Caketress
- Buddy Valastro (of Cake BossCake BossCake Boss is an American reality television series, airing on the cable television network TLC. Set at Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey, the show mainly follows Buddy Valastro, his mother, four sisters, and three brothers-in-law, as they operate their business, with a focus on how they make...
) - won the "Battle of the Brides" challenge in Season 7 - Anna Ellison (of Ace of CakesAce of CakesAce of Cakes is an American reality television show which airs on the Food Network. The show focuses on the daily operations of Duff Goldman's custom cake shop, Charm City Cakes, in Baltimore, Maryland; including small-business ownership, working with various vendors, tasting with customers,...
) - Alex GuarnaschelliAlexandra GuarnaschelliAlexandra "Alex" Guarnaschelli is the executive chef at New York City's Butter restaurant and a television food personality.-Background:A Manhattan native, Guarnaschelli is the daughter of cookbook editor Maria Guarnaschelli and John Guarnaschelli. She is a graduate of Horace Mann School and ...
, frequent ChoppedChopped (TV series)Chopped is a reality based cooking television series created by Michael Krupat, produced by Daniel Kay, and hosted by Ted Allen that pits four chefs against each other competiting for a chance to win $10,000. New episodes air every Tuesday at 10pm EST on Food Network.-Format:In each episode, four...
judge - Vinny and Michelle Garcia
- Bronwen Weber - competed in 22 challenges. As of June 13, 2011 she has the most wins of any competitor in the show with a total of 6 wins.
- Collette Peters
- Richard Ruskell - won his fifth Challenge with Ultimate Cookie Clash. He was also the winner of Last Cake Standing (2011).
- Norman Davis
- Jason Ellis - won the mystery Challenge with a cake for Kerry Vincent's birthday.
- Joshua John Russell - (Best friends with Jason Ellis since college)
- Ashlee Perkins
- Lauren Kitchens
- Marc MurphyMarc Murphy (chef)Marc Murphy is an executive chef, restaurateur and television food personality.-Early career:Murphy attended school at The Institute of Culinary Education and he started as a line cook at Prix Fixe in New York. By the mid 1990s, he was a sous-chef at Layla in New York and in 1996 became the...
, frequent ChoppedChopped (TV series)Chopped is a reality based cooking television series created by Michael Krupat, produced by Daniel Kay, and hosted by Ted Allen that pits four chefs against each other competiting for a chance to win $10,000. New episodes air every Tuesday at 10pm EST on Food Network.-Format:In each episode, four...
judge
Season 1
| # | Title | Winner(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wedding Cake Challenge | |
| 2 | Birthday Cake Competition | |
| 3 | Vegas Pastry Battle | |
| 4 | Chocolate Competition | |
| 5 | Pizza Battle | |
| 6 | Spooky Cake & Candy Cook-Off | |
| 7 | Holiday Cake-Off | |
| 8 | Designer Wedding Cake Cook-Off | |
| 9 | Army Cook-Off | |
| 10 | Navy Chef Challenge | |
| 11 | Al Roker's BBQ Showdown | |
| 12 | The Road to Bocuse d'Or | |
| 13 | Going for the Gold: Bocuse d'Or | |
| 14 | Bocuse d'Or: A Pussies Dream | |
| 15 | Food Network Pastry Daredevils | |
| 16 | Mystery Cake | |
| 17 | Fire & Ice | |
| 18 | Elvis Birthday Cakes | |
| 19 | Texas Steak Cook-Off | |
| 20 | National Pie Championship | |
| 21 | Memphis in May BBQ | |
| 22 | Campfire Cook-Off | |
| 23 | World Pastry Championship | |
| 24 | Seafood Cook-Off | |
| 25 | Teen Chef | |
| 26 | Southern Living Showdown | |
| 27 | Reno Rib Cook-Off | |
| 28 | America's Bread Battle | |
| 29 | Build a Better Burger | |
| 30 | Wedding Cake Classic | |
| 31 | Gingerbread Championship | |
| 32 | World's Best Bartender | |
| 33 | U.S. BBQ Championship | |
| 34 | $50,000 Pastry Challenge | |
| 35 | The Chili Competition | |
| 36 | Cook & Ladder Competition | |
| 37 | Fiery Foods Challenge | |
| 38 | Culinary Team USA | |
| 39 | World's Best Pastry | |
| 40 | BBQ Bootcamp | |
| 41 | The BBQ Circuit | |
| 42 | Chocolate Festival Fantasies | |
| 43 | Cowboy Cook-Off | |
| 44 | BBQ Country Cook-Off | |
| 45 | Big Island Cook-Off | |
| 46 | The National Chicken Cook-Off | |
| 47 | Great Chowder Cook-Off | |
| 48 | America's Best Pastry | |
| 49 | Great Garlic Cook-Off | |
| 50 | Big Beef Battle | |
| 51 | Chili Bowl | |
| 52 | The Great American Pie Cook-Off | |
| 53 | Varsity Cook-Off | |
| 54 | The Spam Cook-Off | |
| 55 | World Pizza Challenge | |
| 56 | Wild Game Cook-Off | |
| 57 | Best Young Chefs in America | |
| 58 | Culinary Champions | |
| 59 | Here Comes the Cake | |
| 60 | The Great Steak Cook-Off | |
| 61 | Royal BBQ Battle | |
| 62 | All Fired Up! | |
| 63 | Extreme Pastry | |
| 64 | Cowboy Challenge | |
| 65 | Big Pig Jig | |
| 66 | BBQ Chili Challenge | |
| 67 | The Great Cake-Off | |
| 68 | Slam Dunk Skillet Showdown | |
| 69 | World Bartending Championship | |
| 70 | Gilroy Garlic Cook-Off | |
| 71 | Gingerbread Challenge | |
| 72 | Gordon Elliott's Door Knock Dinner College Cook-Off | |
| 73 | Keep on Shucking | |
| 74 | Master Chefs | |
| 75 | National Pastry Team Championship | |
| 76 | Pillsbury Kids Bake-Off | |
| 77 | Southern Living Cook-Off | |
| 78 | All-American Tailgating Cook-Off | |
| 79 | World Baking Cup | |
| 80 | World Pastry Cup | |
| 81 | World Pastry Cup: Sweet Rewards | |
Season 2
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | $100,000 Chicken Challenge |
| 2 | Cupcake |
| 3 | Food Network Chocolate Fantasy Challenge |
| 4 | Food Network Pastry Daredevils |
| 5 | Build a Better Burger 2 |
| 6 | Disney Dream Desserts |
| 7 | Ultimate Wedding Cakes |
| 8 | Gingerbread Champions |
| 9 | Incredible Edible Mansions |
| 10 | Rock & Roll Pastry |
Season 3
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sugar Showdown |
| 2 | Celebration Cakes |
| 3 | |
| 4 | Hot Chefs |
| 5 | Cookies |
| 6 | Birthday Cake Surprise |
| 7 | Ultimate Thanksgiving Feast |
| 8 | Candy Castles |
| 9 | Cereal Skylines (100th episode) |
| 10 | Pizza Champions |
| 11 | Sugar Skyscrapers |
| 12 | Flying Knives |
Season 4
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fantasy Fruit Sculptures |
| 2 | Luau Beach BBQ |
| 3 | World Championship Steak Cook-Off |
| 4 | Cartoon Cakes |
| 5 | Fastest Foods |
| 6 | World Pastry Team Championship |
| 7 | Popcorn Giants |
| 8 | The Great American Seafood Cook-Off II |
| 9 | The Cake Awards |
| 10 | Award Cakes |
| 11 | Build a Better Burger III |
| 12 | Chocolate Runway Challenge |
| 13 | Wedding Cake Surprise |
| 14 | National Wedding Cake Championship |
Season 5
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Edible Ornaments |
| 2 | Princess Cakes |
| 3 | Villain Cakes |
| 4 | Great American Pie Cook-Off |
| 5 | Haunted Gingerbread House |
| 6 | Sweet 16 |
| 7 | Extreme Cakes |
| 8 | Simpsons Movie Cake |
| 9 | Mac and Cheese |
| 10 | Super Heroes |
| 11 | National Chicken Cook-Off |
| 12 | World Championship BBQ Cook-Off |
| 13 | National Beef Cook-Off |
Season 6
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Outrageous Pumpkins |
| 2 | Mystery Client Cakes |
| 3 | Chocolate Landmarks |
| 4 | Dr. Seuss Cake Extrodinaire |
| 5 | Surprise Engagement Cake |
| 6 | The Rematch: Fantasy Fruit Sculpture |
| 7 | Superstar Food Stylists |
| 8 | Disney Pixar Cakes |
| 9 | Cirque du Soleil Cakes |
| 10 | Pillsbury Bake-Off |
| 11 | Dr. Seuss Cakes |
Season 7
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | American Pie Festival |
| 2 | Big Bash Caterers |
| 3 | Ice Cream Clash |
| 4 | Tag Team Cakes |
| 5 | Extreme Holiday Cakes |
| 6 | The Next Great Chef |
| 7 | Big City Cakes |
| 8 | Cereal Bridges |
| 9 | Battle of the Brides |
| 10 | Birthday Bombshell |
| 11 | Chocolate Masterpieces |
| 12 | Italian Family Feast |
| 13 | America's Best Burger |
Season 8
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Disney Celebration Cakes |
| 2 | Miley Cyrus' Sweet 16 Cakes |
| 3 | Surprise Birthday Cakes |
| 4 | Blind Date Cakes |
| 5 | Disney Classics Cakes |
| 6 | Last Cake Standing: Personal Best Cakes |
| 7 | Last Cake Standing: Elopement Cakes |
| 8 | Last Cake Standing: Extreme Superhero Cakes |
| 9 | Last Cake Standing: Sweet 16 Sextuplets |
| 10 | Shrek Cakes |
| 11 | Extreme Candy Carnivals |
| 12 | Ice Age Cakes |
Season 9
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Food Magicians |
| 2 | Sesame Street Cakes |
| 3 | Fashion Cakes |
| 4 | Amazing Pie Championship |
| 5 | Edible Cities |
| 6 | Cereal Bridges 2 |
| 7 | Fantasy Vacation Cakes |
| 8 | Sugar Adventures |
| 9 | Newlywed Cakes |
Season 10
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Beauty Pageant Cakes |
| 2 | Extreme Cakes 4 |
| 3 | Chocolate Wonders |
| 4 | Incredible Anniversary Cakes |
| 5 | SpongeBob SpongeBob SquarePants (character) SpongeBob SquarePants is a main fictional character in the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants. He is voiced by Tom Kenny and first appeared on television in the series' pilot episode "Help Wanted" on May 1, 1999. SpongeBob was created and designed by cartoonist Stephen Hillenburg... Birthday Cakes |
| 6 | Extreme Villain Cakes |
| 7 | Sugar Impossible |
| 8 | High School Reunion Cakes |
| 9 | Sex and the City 2 Sex and the City 2 Sex and the City 2 is a 2010 American romantic comedy film directed by Michael Patrick King. It is the sequel to the 2008 film Sex and the City, which is based on the HBO TV series of the same name.... Cakes |
| 10 | All Star Grill-off |
| 11 | Toy Story 3 Toy Story 3 Toy Story 3 is a 2010 American 3D computer-animated comedy-adventure film, and the third installment in the Toy Story series. It was produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It was directed by Lee Unkrich. The film was released worldwide from June through October in Disney Digital... Cakes |
| 12 | Extreme Candy Coasters |
| 13 | Paranormal Cakes |
Season 11
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,... Cakes |
| 2 | Food Landscapes |
| 3 | Ultimate Cookie Clash |
| 4 | Dora the Explorer Dora the Explorer Dora the Explorer is an American animated television series created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh, and Eric Weiner. Dora the Explorer became a regular series in 2000. The show is carried on the Nickelodeon cable television network, including the associated Nick Jr. channel. It aired on CBS until... Cakes |
| 5 | Roller Derby Cakes |
| 6 | Runaway Chocolate |
| 7 | Disney Beauty and the Beast Beauty and the Beast (1991 film) Beauty and the Beast is a 1991 American animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The thirtieth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and the third film of the Disney Renaissance period... Cakes |
| 8 | Outrageous Pumpkins 2 |
| 9 | Flying Sugar |
| 10 | Extreme Urban Legend Cakes |
| 11 | Giant Wedding Cakes |
| 12 | Thanksgiving Family Face-Off (200th episode) |
| 13 | Holiday Windows |
| 14 | Sugar Destinations |
Season 12
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Monster Bugs |
| 2 | Standup Comedy Cakes |
| 3 | Chocolate Surprise Proposal |
| 4 | Best in Show Cakes |
| 5 | Extreme Mardi Gras Cakes |
| 6 | Demolition Derby Cakes |
| 7 | Easter Cakes |
| 8 | Donut Champions |
| 9 | Sugar Inventions |
| 10 | Sugar and Candy Fashion |
| 11 | WWE Wrestling Cakes |
| 12 | Wild West Chocolate |
| 13 | Romance Novel Cakes |
Season 13
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Awesome 80's Cakes |
| 2 | Star Wars Cakes |
| 3 | Chocolate Myths |
| 4 | The Smurfs Movie The Smurfs (film) The Smurfs is a 2011 American 3D family film based on The Smurfs comic book series created by Peyo and the 1980s animated TV series it spawned. It was directed by Raja Gosnell and stars Neil Patrick Harris, Hank Azaria, Jayma Mays, and Sofía Vergara. It is the first CGI/live-action hybrid film to... Cakes |
| 5 | Renaissance Festival Cakes |
| 6 | Extreme Dinosaur Cakes |
| 7 | Extreme Pirate Cakes |
| 8 | Lion King Cakes |