"Baked-Off!: Memoirs of a Pillsbury Bake-Off Junkie" is Steve Grieger's hilarious account of the controversial 1998 Pillsbury Bake-Off.
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Excerpt
Synopsis
As a former contestant in the Pillsbury Bake-Off®, my story begins in 1996 when I accidentally stumble upon a broadcast of the contest -- a contest I had heard of, yet knew nothing about. Like most hardcore foodies, I’d always regarded the Bake-Off® as a quaint anachronism for Midwestern farmwives. But all that changes as I watch the grand prize of one million dollars awarded to ... a man. That settles it. My impending journey from neophyte fascination to full-blown obsession is inevitable.
Every two years the granddaddy of all cooking competitions inspires four days of pageantry in which 100 home cooks showcase their original recipes and vie for a life-altering grand prize. Determined to land a spot in the next contest slated for 1998, I strive to conjure as many original entries as I can. Finally, with inspiration from a rerun of Seinfeld, I concoct "Chocolate Crescent Babka" and win acceptance.
However, just days before leaving, I suffer a devastating break-up with my girlfriend, Katrina, which leaves me in a shattered, vulnerable state. As I fly from my hometown of San Diego to the competition in Orlando, I am consumed with the agonizing belief that I am going to be the ugliest man to ever attend the Pillsbury Bake-Off.
Over the next four days, the adventure of a lifetime unfolds. I and 99 other contestants are treated like royalty by way of gala dinners, trendy nightclubs and premiere passes to Disneyworld. Soon an undeniable camaraderie forms. I meet a likeable array of home cooks, and a not so likeable subculture of “contesters,” a team of independent, culinary thrill-seekers with a win-at-all-costs mentality.
I survive both the threat of a tornado and an angry construction crew. I’m snubbed by Jeopardy’s Alex Trebek. And I fall in love. At the range next to mine I meet Jackie Medley, a spirited bit of competition from Kentucky.
On Day 3, the actual Bake-Off® itself entails five hours of stress, applause and scrutiny by The Powers That Bake. Friendships are forged, rivalries are battled, and more than a few suffer the meltdown of anxiety -- all captured and exploited by the media. It’s all I can do to keep my eye on both the prize and Jackie, and not suffer the same fate.
That night, the Mighty 100 at last come together for a liberating celebratory, surreal rave. Set amongst the magical, faux Hollywood streets of Universal Studios, here Jackie and I fall into the comfort of each other’s arms as we dance, drink and gorge shamelessly, ending the night with the innocence of a kiss. Both of us know that tomorrow morning, when the winner is announced, one of us could have our lives changed ... forever.
My book is a collection of dialogues with award-winning chefs from various backgrounds and cultures, sharing their personal experiences of where and why food culture is where it is today.
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