Meet the Bakers Competing on Great Chocolate Showdown

Andrew works full-time in financial sales, but races home in the evenings to bake. As an avid whiskey and bourbon connoisseur, Andrew has recently discovered just how well whiskey pairs with desserts and has brought two of his passions together: baking and bourbon.

Casey’s early memories of the kitchen are box mixes and easy bake treats. She furthered her skills in middle school by learning to bake in home economics class. For years, she considered opening a bakery under the name ‘Ugly Bakes’ because her baked goods tasted great, but looked awful. Fortunately, with a lot of practice and YouTube tutorials, she’s been able to bring a professional and refined flair to her baked goods.

Craig has been in the casino industry for more than 25 years, working his way up from dealer, to pit boss, to management consultant. After his father fell ill, Craig left Las Vegas to be closer to his family in Vancouver. He took up baking as a way to cope and fully immersed himself in it. Baking is now his greatest passion.

Fadi started cooking at a young age with his mother and grandmother, but baking didn’t really come into his life seriously until four years ago when it allowed Fadi to reconnect with his mother and his sister after he came out as gay. After Fadi’s sister passed away from cancer at 36, he took it upon himself to live out her dream of combining baking with humanitarianism.

Katie began her baking career two years ago by watching TV baking shows, YouTube and Instagram. Now she bakes three times a week, trying a new recipe each time. Katie uses baking as a form of communication and brings baked goods to her boyfriend’s family, who don’t speak English, as a way to show that she cares.

Kathy works as a human resources professional in the banking industry and spends every day at work trying to prevent people from taking risks. Ironically, baking became her creative outlet because what excites her the most in baking is taking risks. Kathy wants to stun people as a self-taught home baker that can create jaw-dropping cakes, pastries and breads.

Renu is an artist and a self-proclaimed chocolate goddess. By day, she teaches arts and ceramics to high school students, but by night, she applies her attention to detail and creative flair to delicious treats. Renu approaches chocolate with the same care as her clay work. Always the perfectionist, she can’t rest until her chocolate desserts look absolutely perfect.

“T the Amazing” spends most of his time up in the air. As a professional circus performer and coach, he’s in the studio training all day, then teaches silks, trapeze, duo trapeze and aerial hoop to recreational students at night. T has only been baking for a year, but when he decides to do something, he embraces it fully.

Trinity is very new to baking. Her first attempt at a professional cake was in March for her birthday. She immediately fell in love and has never felt more passionate about anything. Her first memory of baking was at six years old, at an orphanage on Valentine’s Day. The staff arranged for all the kids to make heart-shaped sugar cookies with sprinkles and it was the first time she felt true happiness and comfort.

Venessa is best known for her extravagant cake art. She grew up in her family’s restaurant but her mother never let her help out in the kitchen. When she finally started baking on her own, she began experimenting with any recipe she could find. Baking is Venessa’s creative outlet, her best therapist and what she’s known for amongst her family and friends. Working as an oncology pharmacist, she bakes to alleviate the stress of her job and brings sweets to her co-workers on weeks that are extra difficult.