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 含羞草研究社渉ome bakers含羞草研究社� competing for a $50,000 grand prize on The Food Network含羞草研究社檚 billed as 含羞草研究社渁n ooey-gooey, decadent chocolate dessert competition series.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淢y parents never said no, it just wasn含羞草研究社檛 the norm for a South Asian boy to bake,含羞草研究社� Mann said Friday (March 19).

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

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 含羞草研究社淕reat Chocolate Showdown,含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檇 launched 含羞草研究社渇or fun含羞草研究社� as an in August 2018.

含羞草研究社淚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,含羞草研究社� Mann recalled. 含羞草研究社淚 didn含羞草研究社檛 take any orders during that time, because I just couldn含羞草研究社檛.含羞草研究社�

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Launched as Jujhar含羞草研究社檚 Dessert Bar, Mann含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淚 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,含羞草研究社� Mann recalled.

含羞草研究社淧eople talk about how COVID stops them from doing things,含羞草研究社� he added, 含羞草研究社渂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.含羞草研究社� 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.含羞草研究社�

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

Online, Mann can be seen in .

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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