Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship Goes Local

A Denver baker, David Bondarchuck, is one of eight contestants on Food Network’s new show, “Holiday Baking Championship,” premiering November 9 on the Food Network, 9pm ET/PT. Contestants compete to show off their traditional holiday dessert prowess. Hosted by Bobby Deen, contestants must impress judges Duff Goldman (“Ace of Cakes”), “Nancy Fuller (“Farmhouse Rules”) and Lorraine Pascale (“Lorraine’s Fast, Fresh & Easy”) in order to win the grand prize of $50,000 and the title of Holiday Baking Champion.

Our food writer, Edan Goode, asked David about his past and the Food Network experience. Here’s what he had to say.

IGTD: Where do you work?

DB: I’m the owner of Scratch Catering Services in Denver, Colorado.

IGTD: What made you want to participate in the show?

DB: Baking has always been very special to me. My great-grandfather owned his own bakery here in Denver, and I also learned to bake with my grandmother. Baking holiday cookies is how my catering business began, and this show seemed like a perfect opportunity, and gradual next step for me to breakout and show the world what I’m most proud of.

IGTD: What was the process like to become a contestant?

DB: Becoming a contestant was the hardest part of the process for me. I had originally applied to be on another show. After I went through the interview process I never heard back, but that was okay because I was very busy catering.  My phone kept ringing off the hook! One day, I was cold-called to apply for “Holiday Baking Championship.” As part of the process, they wanted to interview me over Skype and show off a holiday dessert. The day of my Skype interview I was flying from NYC to California, and my flight was canceled. But, I wanted to be on this show so badly. I had planned on making a Birch de Noel cake for the interview. I convinced the manager of a nearby restaurant to allow me to use their back room oven to make my cake. It was so crazy – I’m trying to create this cake and there’s this woman screaming in the restaurant that she had asked for no pickles and there were pickles on her sandwich. I was like ‘lady there bigger issues going on here – pick them off!’ And I’m standing there with a plastic knife to spread my Swiss meringue frosting! I don’t think the production company even had a clue that my first challenge was way before the lights came on.

IGTD: That IS crazy. Well, they’ll certainly know now what was going on behind the scenes for you that day. Is the show stressful?

DB: The stress was crazy. I couldn’t sleep, I was vomiting. We weren’t told anything about the challenges in advance. We heard it all for the first time when the cameras were rolling. Once Bobby Deen gave us the challenge was, it was go time, and I was honestly at ease. But prior, It was the fear of the unknown. Taping the show I felt like it was so easy.

IGTD: Did you enjoy doing the show?

DB: It was so much fun, working in this amazing set kitchen with items and tools I had never had the opportunity to use before. It was pure bliss! The first promo for the show has already aired, and there’s a snippet of me removing something from the oven. When I turn around you see my face and I think that’s the happiest I’ve ever seen myself before. Just look at my face. I’m smiling and radiating joy.

IGTD: If you do win, what will you do with the money?

DB: As a 4th generation Colorado native, if I were to win, I would open my own bakery right here in Denver. I would also continue my catering service as well.

IGTD: Win or lose, what do you hope being on the show will do for you professionally?

DB: I hope this show will showcase my personality and style. I’d like to continue doing TV to teach and inspire others the way I was inspired. For me it’s all about passing it on. I myself was a homeless teen and I’d like to be a mentor to those whose know they can and want to be greater than they think they are, and help them to realize their full potential, through baking, cooking, decorating, etc… if that is what their passion is.

IGTD: What comes next for you when your run on the show is over?

DB: I don’t know what the future will hold, but for now, I’ve been focusing on my catering business, and social media presence. I’ve been working to be more accessible. I joined Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. I even launched my own YouTube Channel creating segments on cooking, crafts, and decorating content. If and when someone searches for me, they can see I’m a really multitalented individual. I hope people respond well to me, and enjoy the Holiday Baking Championship!