An Omaha baker will be turning up the heat on her competition on a national stage.
Michelle Kaiser is the owner of The Omaha Bakery and will be competing on the Food Network's Spring Baking Championship when is premieres Monday night. Kaiser says thirty years of hard work has brought her to this. "It has been very emotional, because I have waited so long for this opportunity and its all, like, really coming together for me."
Kaiser says she was sought out by the Food Network and offered a coveted spot on the show, but at first she thought it was a prank. "I thought that one of my friends was playing a joke on me, because everyone that knows me knows I want to be on national TV some day." The offer came in a phone call one Friday night about a year ago. In that call, Kaiser was told she would receive an email with more information. Friday turned into Saturday, and Saturday into Sunday, still no email. Kaiser thought maybe it all had been a prank, but after a few days wondering, she reached back out to the network and realized it was all real.
Then it was time to film. The set. The judge's table. The dream kitchen. Kaiser says setting foot on that sound stage was the beginning of something wonderful. "When we walked out on the set, the emotions and everything were just so surreal. It was the most beautiful kitchen ever. It was just an experience that it's kind of like when a bride tries on a dress and is like 'This is the dress!' For me it was like 'This is the kitchen!' It was just such a special thing to experience."
Kaiser says no matter if she walks away with the grand prize or not, she knows she's a winner. "The opportunities that come with this are phenomenal. It's gonna be an amazing opportunity, that is only gonna cause growth for my business."
Ali Khan hosts the new season that will test the skills of ten talented bakers to see who will measure up and impress judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman and Lorraine Pascale. In each of the eight episodes, bakers must prepare tasty treats in two rounds of challenges. Bakers will be challenged on their creativity, execution, and ability to perform under pressure, all while crafting delicious, beautiful baked bites befitting spring such as cupcake flower arrangements, picnic-perfect mini pies and berry-infused desserts. All this leads up to the April 30th finale, in which we will see a the winner crowned the Spring Baking Champion.
The season premiere's Monday night at 8:00 CST on the Food Network.