The Challenge (08)
So by now you’ve all seen the Food Network Challenge… I want to first say thank you to all that have sent emails, blog comments, text messages and phone calls…sharing your support! I truly appreciate knowing that you are out there enjoying what I and Pink Cake Box produce!
After living the real life 8 hour challenge, and then watching it on tv…my comments are below 
1) I do realize there is no crying in cake But sometimes there is…
2) At the time, I made the decision to do as the client wanted…even though in theory she wasn’t a client…and it was a challenge….but in real life I always try to make the bride happy!
3) In the end, I was upset because I didn’t stay true to my work (i.e. it wasn’t as clean as I would like, nor was the color scheme very cohesive, etc) and the result was that my cake looked terrible…and the judges called me on it.
So that’s it in a nutshell. It was a great learning experience..I do feel I did a lot better in the 2nd one…and I can promise I don’t normally cry when I make wedding cakes. : )
Thanks again to my family and friends for sharing your warm wishes with me!!!
Looking for more?
Cake Decorating DVDs!
Make cakes like a pro with our NEW cake decorating instructional DVDs!
More Info »
Copyright © 2013 Pink Cake Box. All Rights Reserved.
Anne,
I completely thought you handled yourself beautifully on the challenge! You wanted to please your bride first and foremost, and it just so happened that she was your assistant for the day. For those of us who admire your designs and your work, we know the difference in the challenge versus your usual end results. It wasn’t your design, as noted by the bride on the show…..it was hers and clearly, she knew it wasn’t working to what she had expected it to. You are an amazing designer and your work is always beautiful. Despite the end result of the challenge, you represented yourself and your shop beautifully.
I just wanted to say I was so excited to see you on the challenge! As a fellow cake decorator (not near as good as you) i LOVE watching those challenges and I have often come to your site to see your beautiful work! I think your right…the judges and people there did not get to see your best work since it was a challenge…you do phenomenal work and I look forward to seeing you win one of those challenges! Look how long it took that buddy guy to win…so you did great for your first time!
You did great..and anyone who knows your work knows how spectacular it is! Can’t wait to see you in future challenges. And if it wasn’t going to be you, I’m glad Buddy finally won!
You did so well! It wasn’t your fault at all. You were kind enough to incorporate the bride’s designs and her, not your, taste is what cost you the win. Your designs are gorgeous! Your work is always amazing. I am sure you will win in the future!
I am so new to cake decorating that I thought your cake was adorable! I think it is so cool that you were in the challenge. Also, I have cried for lesser cakes, so I completely understand!
I have been following your blog for sometime now so I figured it’s about time I comment! I saw you this weekend at the cake show and your work was great! You’re an amazing cake decorator
I think you handled yourself well on the challenge and you were the only one who did what they were supposed to do: to design a cake the bride wanted.
I admire your skill and creativity! Thanks for being such an inspiration to us up and coming cake designers
Hi Anne, I have watched almost all the challenges and i thought your cake was great as usual. I also think that their is a initiation process that you have to go through as a first time challenger. I thought you did do fabulous. Lynn
I am sorry about the challenge. She had to have known that that would not be the actual cake being used for her wedding, right?! You did great for your first (with many to come) challenge! That bride was just plain rude…even to say all of that on tv. I understand how it feels to have your wedding cake become a disaster.. first hand. Your cake was far from it. And you do beautiful work! Be proud of yourself!
Hi Anne,
I couldn’t wait to see you on the FN Challenge, and I just want to say…….you got the worst bride ever!!!!! But you handled the situation perfectly…….I mean, it WAS her design, and you were just trying to give her what she wanted!!! And I didn’t think your cake was horrible!!!! You do such fantastic work, that it couldn’t have been horrible!!!!!!! (You did the best you could given that you had the bride from Hades to work with!!!!!!!) I felt for you in the end…….I have cried over cake too!!!!!! But you did a great job, and I can’t wait to see you in the next Challenge!!!!!!!
Well, you’ve got one under your belt and know what to expect. Sometimes it’s trial by fire, right? I thought you did great and carried yourself well. I look forward to seeing you compete in future challenges!
Hi Anne,
It was so exciting to see you on Food Network Challenge! I’m also a cake decorator and love to watch the challenges…it was nice to see someone knew involved. You handled yourself very well and did exactly what I would have done…do the best to make the bride happy. I check into your site often, I love looking at your beautiful cakes. Don’t beat yourself up too much on what the judges said though, you were asked to be a part of the challege for a reason and I still think you did a great job.
Anne, being a longtime fan (and a one-time Pink Cake Box cake receiver!), I felt like *you* got the shaft in this challenge. You did what you could with what you had. Even the judges pointed out that you were the only one who actually took your bride’s opinions into account and tried to please her. You could tell, considering how blunt the judges are, were on your side and were looking forward to your work in the future.
I was so sure in just the first five minutes that I’d dislike every bride but yours, and I found by the end of the competition, your situation left a bitter taste in my mouth; I ended up liking everyone but her.
Your work is magnificent, and anyone would be beyond lucky to have you and your staff to work with.
Like you, I’ve wiped my hands clean of this, and I cannot WAIT to see your next Challenge!
Anne,
As stated in many of the comments above, you did a WONDERFUL job! Those that know your work, LOVE it! Who cares what the judges say, you are talented! Best of luck!
I’m SO glad this won’t be your only Challenge because your work is phenomenal! It would be incredibly difficult to try to make someone’s design when you only have access to what you brought with you. I’m excited to see the next one!
Anne,
This was the first of these shows I’ve seen, and I just had to tell you that after watching it, I thought you were the only cakemaker I would actually want to call and order a cake from. You did a great job trying to please your bride (even though she was a cranky, low-blood-sugar ingrate) and your professionalism and natural talent showed through. Well done!