Netflix’s 2024 edition Blue Ribbon Baking Championship brings together state fair bakers who compete to win the ultimate prize.
10 contestants Blue Ribbon Baking Championship going head-to-head in a series of roasts and challenges for the blue ribbon award and $100,000 grand prize.
The competition is hosted by Jason Biggs (American Pie) and its judges include Sandra Lee, Bill Yosses and Bryan Ford.
Blue Ribbon Baking Championship premieres on Netflix on August 9.
Each of the main characters in the Blue Ribbon Baking Championship
Host
Jason Biggs
Instagram: @biggsjason
American Pie alum Jason Biggs serves as the Netflix host Blue Ribbon Baking Championship.
Speaking to the New York Post, the actor talked about joining the series and noted this American Pie helped him land a gig hosting a new competition series:
“This opportunity came up and I thought it was a great idea. Of course there is an obvious connection to baking from my early career.”
Biggs also reflected on his involvement in the series and noted that “it’s a lot of fun” throughout their experience:
“I think there’s a lot of fun with it. I definitely had fun winking at the camera at times and having some of those jokes in my back pocket… I also thought it was really cool that we brought 10 amazing amateur bakers from all over the country… It’s fascinating to see how much talent is all over the country.”
Biggs is best known for portraying Jim in the film American Pie movies. The actor also acted Overwhelming, Subjectand Jay and Silent Bob reboot.
Judiciary
Sandra Lee
Instagram: @sandraleeonline
Sandra Lee, cookbook author and TV personality, is the host and judge Blue Ribbon Baking Championship.
Lee is no stranger to the world of baking, having won a blue ribbon at the Los Angeles County Fair in 1992. As a TV personality, she appeared on Food Network shows such as Half homemade cooking and Sandra’s money-saving meals.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Lee explained what makes the Blue Ribbon Baking Championship unique from other baking shows, noting factors such as camaraderie and a sense of family among the contestants:
“The camaraderie and family feeling of the competitors. They lifted each other up. Many of the bakers would leave their station and go help the other. I don’t think the world sees who we really are as Americans. They hear the politics and they hear it on the news. I think it’s going to be great for viewers from other countries to get to follow us and see what our fair looks like and how friendly people are.”
He also revealed that they filmed in real time:
“And – unlike other competing shows – we shoot in real time. There was no stop and pick up the next day. We shot an 18-hour day. There was no cool down or changeover.”
Bill Yosses
Instagram: @bill_yosses
Bill Yosses is a former White House pastry chef from 2007-2014 who brings his talents and expertise to Netflix’s newest baking show.
In addition to being a judge Blue Ribbon Baking ChampionshipYosses was also involved in choosing the Hulu winner Baker’s Dozen.
He is involved in the writing Dessert for dolls and The perfect finish: special desserts for every occasion. Yosses is also the owner of Perfect Pie, a New York bakery.
Bryan Ford
Instagram: @artisanbryan
Bryan Ford is an award-winning artisan bread baker who joins the series as one of the judges.
He is a writer New World Sourdough and host of the Magnolia Network Let’s bake in tradition and Artisans’ kitchen.
Ford also has a podcast called The Flaky Biscuit Podcast with his wife Bridget Kenna.
Competitors
Eileen Gannon
Instagram: @bakewithileen
Eileen Gannon has won over 600 food competitions at the Iowa State Fair and national food competitions across the state. She’s ready to make a name for herself in Netflix’s newest competition series.
He is also the proud owner of his company Sunday Night Foods, a premium chocolate dessert sauce company based in Des Moines.
In Episode 1, Eileen admitted that Blue Ribbon Baking Championship is the biggest stage he has ever competed on.
Larry Kaiser
A native of Long Island, New York, Larry is out to prove that he belongs at the top of baking Blue Ribbon Baking Championship.
As a farmer with many accolades in the world of baking, Larry says in Episode 1 that he doesn’t need to prove who he is to anyone, which means he’s confident in his abilities.
He is the owner of 1760 Homestead Farm in Riverhead, New York.
Speaking with Northforker, Larry reflected on his goals for joining the race and stated that he wanted to represent “Long Island East End Agricultural Community:”
“One is to bring attention to this farm and what we’re doing. Because the goal is to preserve some of the history of the North Fork. In committing to this, I wanted to represent the farming community on the east end of Long Island. I did those two things well, and for the simple reason that when you watch the show and see what I’m doing, you totally understand where my creativity comes from.”
Catherine Cheng
Instagram: @itscatcheng
Catherine Cheng is a seasoned baker who won the annual Queens Agricultural Fair at Queens County Farm, which increased her chances of joining Netflix’s new baking series.
Cat, who is a former music teacher, said in episode 1 that she left her teaching career to pursue baking full time and admitted that she “I completely fell in love with baking.”
Lois Szymanski Spruytte
Instagram: @loisbaker722
Lois Szymanski Spruytte, who hails from Richmond, Michigan, is one of the top 10 bakers. Blue Ribbon Baking Championship.
The 63-year-old nut company owner is a risk taker who will do anything to win it all in the baking line.
Felicia Dawn
Instagram: @justonebitecupcakes
Felicia Dawn enters the competition as a determined baker willing to give it her all to earn the top prize and become the best of the best.
The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., native believes he’s one of the best bakers out there, but he’s surprised by how well his peers compete.
Felicia owns a cupcake bakery, Just One Bite Cupcakes, and is thrilled with her family’s unwavering support for her passion.
Nathan Chandler
Instagram: @confectionsbakeryidaho
Nathan Chandler is an Idaho native and owner of Confections Bakery in Pocatello. His unique eye for design combined with his different touch on irresistible flavors made him one of the standouts of the competition.
She is also a past winner of the Idaho State Fair, which led to her participation in the Netflix baking series.
She also has experience competing in televised competitions, having previously been a contestant on the Food Network. Christmas cookie challenge in 2019.
Speaking with the Idaho State Journal, Nathan reflected on and described his journey on the series “a very scary situation:”
“It’s a very scary situation to walk into. It was very clear that everyone there knew what they were doing. The one thing I would say I enjoyed the most about the situation is that everyone was so nice that I don’t want to say that it wasn’t a competition because there was $100,000 in. Everyone was there to compete, but everyone was very helpful to each other.
Jeff Bartolozzi
Instagram: @mr.bartolozzi
Jeff Bartolozzi is an attorney and baker who earned a blue ribbon at the 2019 Ohio State Fair. Outside of baking, the Cleveland native is part of a corporate law firm called Barnes & Thornburg.
In an interview with AXIOS, Jeff noted that the Blue Ribbon Baking Championship contestant was “much more stressful than some of the cases (he) worked on:”
“This baking show was a lot more stressful than some of the cases I’ve worked on… I don’t think I had a meltdown, but there were definitely moments where you’re in the process.”
Jennifer Stoker
Instagram: @jennabel_5108
Jennifer Stoker is an aerospace engineer, proud “boy mother” Zumba instructor and State Fair baking champion.
At times, Stoker puts his engineering knowledge to good use during the competition, such as making sure the donut doesn’t fall off the stick during the first challenge.
Kim Thompson
Instagram: @kimmykakesrva
Kim Thompson, also known as Kimmy Kakes, joins state fair winners to test their baking skills Blue Ribbon Baking Championship.
Her specialty is making punk cakes and her best so far is a cake covered in Jamaican rum sauce called “Welcome To Jam Rock”.
Kim was a first prize winner at the Virginia State Fair in several years (2021 and 2022).
Ron Bronitsky
Ron Bronitsky, 73, is a retired pulmonologist who now spends his free time baking all kinds of desserts.
She is also a singer and theater performer and won several blue ribbons at the New Mexico State Fair.
Speaking with ABQ Journal, Ron admitted that entering the competition is a maybe “Craziest, craziest thing (he) ever did:”
“It’s the craziest, craziest thing I’ve ever done. There were cameras everywhere. This is a multi-million dollar overdraft. … It was at the state fair. So there were all these carnival rides in the background, and there were very long days.”
All episodes Blue Ribbon Baking Championship now streaming on Netflix.
Read more about other baking and cooking programs:
Spring Baking Championship 2024 Cast: Every contestant, judge and host in season 10
Great British Baking Show: Holidays 2023 Cast, Contestants, Judges & Host Season 6 (Photos)
Holiday Baking Championship 2023 Cast, Contestants, Judges and Host Season 10
