The dessert-making skills of a budding Surrey baker are showcased on an elimination-type TV show devoted to chocolate treats.

Newton-area student Jujhar Mann, 21, is among 10 香蕉视频直播渉ome bakers香蕉视频直播� competing for a $50,000 grand prize on The Food Network香蕉视频直播檚 billed as 香蕉视频直播渁n ooey-gooey, decadent chocolate dessert competition series.香蕉视频直播�

The second-season show is another step toward a pastry-chef career for Mann, who says he wasn香蕉视频直播檛 encouraged to bake as a child, but always admired the art of baking and cake decorating. He dreamed of becoming a pastry chef and having his own bakeshop one day.

香蕉视频直播淢y parents never said no, it just wasn香蕉视频直播檛 the norm for a South Asian boy to bake,香蕉视频直播� Mann said Friday (March 19).

香蕉视频直播淚t just wasn香蕉视频直播檛 encouraged, and it was difficult because I kind of felt trapped, not doing what I wanted to do,香蕉视频直播� he added. 香蕉视频直播淚 only really started baking in 2018, three years ago. I香蕉视频直播檝e always been a creative person, hands-on, working with my hands, but I never baked at home. I香蕉视频直播檓 not like other contestants who say they香蕉视频直播檝e been baking since age four, or whatever.香蕉视频直播�

As a creative outlet, Mann started baking after completing a stressful first year of business studies at Simon Fraser University. Last year, when classes went online during the pandemic, he applied to appear on 香蕉视频直播淕reat Chocolate Showdown,香蕉视频直播� was selected, and flew to Toronto to film the eight-episode series, which airs Mondays.

Meantime, he was also handling inquiries for the online bakeshop he香蕉视频直播檇 launched 香蕉视频直播渇or fun香蕉视频直播� as an in August 2018.

香蕉视频直播淚t was so much fun being on the show but also intense, because I was a full-time student with four classes and it was all supposed to be a secret, too, me being on the show,香蕉视频直播� Mann recalled. 香蕉视频直播淚 didn香蕉视频直播檛 take any orders during that time, because I just couldn香蕉视频直播檛.香蕉视频直播�

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Launched as Jujhar香蕉视频直播檚 Dessert Bar, Mann香蕉视频直播檚 business is now known as Mann & Co Bakeshop, a portal for custom cakes, dessert bars and more. His plan is to open a storefront location in Newton later this year.

On the TV show, the Kwantlen Park Secondary grad said he香蕉视频直播檚 up against competitors from Texas, Portland, Philadelphia, Toronto and other North America cities, with all desserts judged by Anna Olson, Steve Hodge and Cynthia Stroud.

香蕉视频直播淚 watched the first season (of the show) last year and I contacted the contestants to ask them about it, the experience, and then I applied to be on it,香蕉视频直播� Mann recalled.

香蕉视频直播淧eople talk about how COVID stops them from doing things,香蕉视频直播� he added, 香蕉视频直播渂ut for me it was helpful, because I could do online school and the show, and after the filming I attended a pastry school in Las Vegas.香蕉视频直播� I just returned from there last week. My business degree ends next month, and now I am a pastry chef as well. My dreams are becoming a reality.香蕉视频直播�

Those dreams now include expanding his business and doing more TV shows 香蕉视频直播� maybe doing his own one day, too.

Online, Mann can be seen in .

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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