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 91裸聊视频渉ome bakers91裸聊视频� competing for a $50,000 grand prize on The Food Network91裸聊视频檚 billed as 91裸聊视频渁n ooey-gooey, decadent chocolate dessert competition series.91裸聊视频�

The second-season show is another step toward a pastry-chef career for Mann, who says he wasn91裸聊视频檛 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.

91裸聊视频淢y parents never said no, it just wasn91裸聊视频檛 the norm for a South Asian boy to bake,91裸聊视频� Mann said Friday (March 19).

91裸聊视频淚t just wasn91裸聊视频檛 encouraged, and it was difficult because I kind of felt trapped, not doing what I wanted to do,91裸聊视频� he added. 91裸聊视频淚 only really started baking in 2018, three years ago. I91裸聊视频檝e always been a creative person, hands-on, working with my hands, but I never baked at home. I91裸聊视频檓 not like other contestants who say they91裸聊视频檝e been baking since age four, or whatever.91裸聊视频�

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 91裸聊视频淕reat Chocolate Showdown,91裸聊视频� 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 he91裸聊视频檇 launched 91裸聊视频渇or fun91裸聊视频� as an in August 2018.

91裸聊视频淚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,91裸聊视频� Mann recalled. 91裸聊视频淚 didn91裸聊视频檛 take any orders during that time, because I just couldn91裸聊视频檛.91裸聊视频�

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Launched as Jujhar91裸聊视频檚 Dessert Bar, Mann91裸聊视频檚 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 he91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚 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,91裸聊视频� Mann recalled.

91裸聊视频淧eople talk about how COVID stops them from doing things,91裸聊视频� he added, 91裸聊视频渂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.91裸聊视频� 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.91裸聊视频�

Those dreams now include expanding his business and doing more TV shows 91裸聊视频� maybe doing his own one day, too.

Online, Mann can be seen in .

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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