TLC’s unveiled the names of the contestants who’ll be competing on this new season of Next Great Baker with Buddy “Cake Boss” Valastro. Premiering on November 26, 2012 at 9pm ET/PT, 13 lucky – and talented – pastry chefs will be trying to out-bake and out-decorate each other in order to win the $100,000 prize, a Redbook Magazine feature story and the chance to work with Buddy and his team at Carlo’s Bakery.
Guest judges on this 10-episode season include Mario Lopez & Courtney Mazza, Lou Ferrigno, Peter Billingsley (A Christmas Story), Holly Madison, and Joey Fatone.
“Each season brings out stronger contestants and I think this is the best batch yet. The challenges are tougher, the judges more critical, and the reward as sweet as ever,” states Buddy Valastro.
Next Great Baker Season 3 Contestants:
Letty Alvarez – Miami, FL
41 years old; Owner/Operator of LA Sweets
James S. Brown – Lexington, KY (previously from Chicago, IL)
41 years old; Owner of Brown’s Bakery
Paul Christopher Conti – Long Beach Island, NJ (originally from Staten Island, NY)
30 years old; currently unemployed
Chad Durkin – Philadelphia, PA (previously from Hackensack, NJ and Toms River, NJ)
28 years old; Owner of CAD Culinary consulting and wedding cakes
Gretel-Ann Fischer – Colchester, VT
35 years old; Owner of Cupp’s, a bakery/café in Winooski, Vermont
Peter Gray – East Longmeadow, MA
21 years old; Runs cake decorating business Pete’s Sweets
Ashley Lauren Holt – Louisville, KY
24 years old; Pastry Chef at The Louisville Country Club, also runs cake business Sugar Monster Sweets
Jen Kwapinski – San Jose, CA (previously from Columbus, NE)
32 years old; Owner of Jen’s Cakes
Chris Luna – Roseville, CA (originally from Pollock Pines, CA) *Chris was the America’s Choice selection
29 years old; Currently a Sales Executive, and an amateur baker
Melissa Payne – Chesterfield, VA
33 years old; Owner of Couture Cake Creations, co-owner of Sweets Couture
Jess Reyling – Peoria, IL (originally from Chillicothe, IL)
30 years old; Stay at Home Mom
Emme Tyler – Los Angeles, CA
30 years old; Owner of Skinny Batches
William Garrett Wallace – Waverly,TN
36 years old; Cake artist at Fabulous Baker Boy
