October 31, 2017 – Longtime Santa Cruz pastry chef and baking instructor Stephany Buswell is one of nine competitors who will get their hands in the dough, and perhaps on the dough, in the Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship, which begins Monday, November 6.
Over several decades Buswell has worked at Staff of Life Bakery, Gayle’s and The Buttery and ran her own shop called Stephany’s Desserts on River St. In addition, she taught at the Cabrillo College Culinary Program for 18 years and is responsible for training dozens of local chefs. Currently she teaches at the International Culinary Center in Campbell.
She traveled to New Orleans in June to tape the seven-week series—in which the chef contestants are handed a holiday baking challenge and judges vote one chef off the show each week. The winner takes home $50,000 in prize money and the title Holiday Baking Champion.
“I have to admit I walked into the contest a little cocky. I really thought I had an advantage being the eldest in the group with all this experience,” says Buswell, now 66.
“But it was the hardest thing I ever did, in terms of the timeframe and all the other amazing contestants,” she says. “We all just inspired each other.” The Santa Cruz baker is sworn to secrecy, so we will not find out how many weeks she lasted or whether she is the winner until the program airs, Monday nights at 9pm.
Buswell discovered her passion for pastry while working at Staff of Life in the 1970s and attending Cabrillo College, but when she tried to get a restaurant job the doors were closed to women. “Nobody would hire me, because they said women weren’t strong enough and didn’t have the stamina,” she recalls.
Finally she scored a job a Gayle’s Bakery, which had just opened in Capitola. “Gayle brought in a French chef to train all of us in how to make croissants and baguettes the proper way,” she says. Later she moved over to The Buttery and in 2000 earned her master baker certification.
“I just think baking is magical, the way things come together and turn into something else,” Buswell says of her profession. “I know the science, but I still think it’s magic when puff pastry puffs.”
“Then you get to feed people and make them happy and be part of their special occasions,” she adds.
Friends, students and former students are getting together for Buswell’s television debut at a watch party for the first episode of the Holiday Baking Championship on Monday, November 6 at 7:30, the program airs at 9pm. The party takes place at the Food Lounge, 1001 Center St. Santa Cruz and is open to the public.
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At Edible Monterey Bay, our mission is to celebrate the local food culture of Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey Counties, season by season. We believe in sustainability, and we believe everyone has a right to healthful, clean and affordable food. We think knowing where our food comes from is powerful, and we hope our magazine, website and newsletters inspire readers to get to know and support our local growers, fishers, chefs, vintners and food artisans.
