Meet Colorado’s own Angel Figueroa, contestant on Food Network’s “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking, Season 2.” You may recognize her from other Food Network competitions too! Angel was kind enough to answer my questions about her story, her time on the show, her local business and her inspiration.
Get to Know Angel Figueroa, Local Contestant: Food Network’s “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking”
Q: First, let’s start with you and your background. Where are you from and how long have you been in Colorado?
A: I was born and raised in Chile. My life back then was between Vina del Mar, where my school was; Quilpue, where my home was and Limache, where my family’s farm is. My memories include the beach and the farm. A childhood surrounded by a loving family and lifelong friends.
After graduating from Culinary School, I had the chance to work and travel to different places like Chile, Peru, Thailand and finally the U.S., where I have been for the past 15 years. I now call Denver, Colorado my home.
Q: What lead you to become a baker in the first place?
A: From a very young age I remember loving to bake and being in the kitchen. I don’t remember wanting to be anything else but a Chef. When in Culinary School, I found myself drawn to pastries more than savory, which lead for me to do every internship I had in pastries. I worked in hotels, restaurant and catering. I know that the artistic part of pastries was what motivated me to be a pastry chef. I am meticulous, artistic, creative and disciplined.
Q: What then lead you to become a cake sculptor/painter/carver?
A: Pastries have always been my passion. When I moved to the U.S. is when I discovered cake artistry. I remember watching a baking show where they did cake sculpting. I thought to myself “THAT’S what I want to do and want to get to.” I worked in different bakeries as a cake artist to learn and perfected my skills. This is everything I ever wanted. I get to create, sculpt, carved, paint, airbrush, etc. It’s one of the many options of becoming an artist.
Q: When you’re providing treats using those skills, how long can it take to create, say, cupcakes or a birthday cake?
A: The process, from start to finish, varies depending on the complexity of design. Without taking in consideration the actual baking of the cake, it could take anywhere from 20 minutes to multiple days to decorate. This is why each cake is priced differently.
Q: When did you start your business?
A: I started my business “3 Cherries on Top” 8 years ago here in Denver.
Q: What is it named after?
A: “3 Cherries on Top” is named after my beautiful family. Meeting my husband was one of the best things that has happened to me. Then, when we had our first son, Santiago, that was just the “cherry on top”. But it didn’t end there. We had twins couple of years later, and that was just “3 Cherries on Top”!!!
Q: Where is your business located?
A: I am located in Park Hill neighborhood in Denver, Colorado.
Q: What products and services do you offer through the company?
A: Everything is pre-order and custom made. I offer cakes, cupcakes and sugar cookies.
Q: How can people learn more about 3 Cherries on Top bakery?
A: You can learn more about “3 Cherries on Top” on my website www.3cherriesontop.com or my Instagram account @threecherriesontop.
Angel Figueroa and “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking”
Q: Now, let’s get into the competition. “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking” isn’t the first time you’ve participated in competitions or on TV. Can you tell us about those?
A: This is my 3rd competition. The first one was “Dr. Seuss Baking Challenge”. You can watch on Prime video. Every challenge was focused on creating one of the magical stories and characters of Dr. Seuss books, combining storytelling and delicious treats.
The second one was “Holiday Wars,” season 5 on Food Network. This one was focused on the Holiday season. We were judged on creativity, storytelling and flavor.
Q: What is the process for becoming involved with Food Network’s Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking (i.e., do they reach out to you? Is there an application process, etc.?)
A: The process to become chosen to participate was different for each contestant. Some of us were called to participate in the casting, some others applied through the application online. After this process some of us had to applied in person, other through video call, etc. The casting process looked different for everyone involved, mostly because there were casting people from all over the world.
Q: What is the actual competition and filming process like?
A: The competition consisted in challenges that needed to be finished on a certain amount of time. This time was different depending on the challenge.
Challenges consisted in recreating Harry Potter’s scenes, elements and creatures of the books and movies. Always adding an element of magic to our pieces. This was my favorite part. You don’t only get to create edible pieces but also get to do Magic!
Partners were chosen taking in consideration our skills to achieved a balance and fairness for all. I personally was so happy to work with Rui, who was invited all the way from Portugal. He is such a talented Chef.
As far as filming, all challenges and show in general were filmed overnight. Every day included filming the competitions or/and filmed other fun things that you’ll see throughout the show. The filming team, producers, wardrobe, makeup, and everyone else involved in this journey were incredibly supportive and fun to work with. There is a magical world in front of the camera but also a magnificent world behind it.
Q: What is life like for you while you’re on the show?
A: Crazy! In the best way if you enjoy long hours, little sleep, lots of stress and all this while keeping your best attitude!
I personally LOVE my life while in competitions. Even though I miss my family, I enjoy focusing all my attention on just being a cake artist. I get to create, have fun and meet wonderful talented people.
I call TV competitions, “pastry and cakes bootcamp,” because I always take this as an opportunity to learn from the best cake artists and pastry chefs. Everyone has something new to bring to the table and getting to see this, and learn from each other, is really a gift. I tried soak it all in to become a better cake artist.
Q: What might we viewers be surprised to know about what’s going on behind the scenes?
A: There is SO much going on behind the scenes! People are crying, some others are happy, others mad, etc… It’s a roller coaster of emotions! But, we always seem to keep it together at some point and become just one big team with the same purpose. Entertain and bring the magic to people at home.
There are so many people working behind the scenes. Everyone walks faster than the person next to them. There is no room for slow in ANY way.
My favorite team was special effects department. Even adding fog/smoke to the sets it’s a science. The perfect timing, the right amount, the right position. This was one of the many things that this department does.
There is so much attention to detail. Even opening a door in the right way. For instance, our “vignettes”. This is where they introduce us on the show. I personally was introduce packing a suitcase and finally putting everything in Hermione’s bag.
These introductions, what you see at home it’s maybe 20 seconds for each contestant. These took many, many hours and multiple repetitions to film and get the right one. Mine alone was maybe an hour or more. That’s another thing, time is NEVER on your side.
Q: What have your recognitions and TV appearances meant for your business?
A: My recognition and TV appearances have been very good for my business. The exposure allows for people to know about myself and what I do at my business. Customers know what I am capable off and they trust my judgement. I get more orders with creative freedom, which allows me to have more fun at my job.
I also think that brings me a little closer to my customers. With the shows, they get to know me a little more, a little more about myself and many times feeling represented in some way. As a mom, entrepreneur, business owner, wife, Latina, immigrant and a dreamer.
Q: What’s the most amazing thing you’ve created in your career (on TV or just for a client)?
A: The most amazing thing I’ve created in my career, it’s to have my own business! Starting a business, with at the time 3 kids under 5 years old took a lot of work and lots of support from my husband. He believed in my skills probably more than I believed in myself. My business not only allowed me to be a very present mom and wife, but also have a creative outlet and a feeling of accomplishment. I also had a goal, I wanted to be on a cake competition, something that I have done not only once, but “thrice”!
Q: What’s your dream project that might seem just too crazy to try but you want to do it anyway?
A: My dream project is to become a Judge at a TV baking competition. Now THAT’S a big dream and very hard to accomplish. It requires lots of knowledge, experience in pastries and cakes, experience in TV and lots of charisma. I’m working on all of them.
I do know that there is no dream too big. I have no fear on dreaming big. I think as long as you are working hard to accomplish it, and doing everything YOU can, even though if it doesn’t work out, you’ll know you did everything you could. That’s enough for me. I want to see myself as an old lady looking back knowing that I did everything I could to accomplish all my dreams.
-By Courtney Drake-McDonough, Publisher & Managing Editor, InGoodTasteDenver.com
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