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 害羞草研究所渉ome bakers害羞草研究所� competing for a $50,000 grand prize on The Food Network害羞草研究所檚 billed as 害羞草研究所渁n ooey-gooey, decadent chocolate dessert competition series.害羞草研究所�

The second-season show is another step toward a pastry-chef career for Mann, who says he wasn害羞草研究所檛 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.

害羞草研究所淢y parents never said no, it just wasn害羞草研究所檛 the norm for a South Asian boy to bake,害羞草研究所� Mann said Friday (March 19).

害羞草研究所淚t just wasn害羞草研究所檛 encouraged, and it was difficult because I kind of felt trapped, not doing what I wanted to do,害羞草研究所� he added. 害羞草研究所淚 only really started baking in 2018, three years ago. I害羞草研究所檝e always been a creative person, hands-on, working with my hands, but I never baked at home. I害羞草研究所檓 not like other contestants who say they害羞草研究所檝e been baking since age four, or whatever.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所淕reat Chocolate Showdown,害羞草研究所� 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 he害羞草研究所檇 launched 害羞草研究所渇or fun害羞草研究所� as an in August 2018.

害羞草研究所淚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,害羞草研究所� Mann recalled. 害羞草研究所淚 didn害羞草研究所檛 take any orders during that time, because I just couldn害羞草研究所檛.害羞草研究所�

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Launched as Jujhar害羞草研究所檚 Dessert Bar, Mann害羞草研究所檚 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 he害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚 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,害羞草研究所� Mann recalled.

害羞草研究所淧eople talk about how COVID stops them from doing things,害羞草研究所� he added, 害羞草研究所渂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.害羞草研究所� 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.害羞草研究所�

Those dreams now include expanding his business and doing more TV shows 害羞草研究所� maybe doing his own one day, too.

Online, Mann can be seen in .

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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