Local baker's talent rises on national TV Show

As the clocked ticked down and the judges pestered and prodded, Stephanie Chen knew she had only herself to blame for her unique set of problems. With one challenge left, the former advertising executive was just hours away from the finale of “The Great American Baking Show.” She had made it this far: competing as one of the top two amateur bakers in the United States. Now, if only her macarons would survive the test of rainy London weather and set correctly, despite the humidity. Not to mention the weak consistency of her butterscotch pot de crème.

“There’s so much adrenaline going through my body in every single challenge,” Chen said in a recent phone interview, back in the comfort of her Santa Monica kitchen where her passion began. The show recently aired on ABC but taped over three weeks just outside of London a few months ago.

Steph Chen's Kitchen Intuition

Steph Chen’s life story follows a dreamy narrative that everyone wants to jump into: kick ass woman quits her successful corporate job for passion project in baking and cake design.

*cue inspiring montage of trading paperwork and pencil skirts for Kitchen Aid and high top sneakers*

But before you get swept away by that dreamy sequence, I want to stop you. Because that’s just the frosting--her whole story is so much richer and so much deeper than that.

At first glance, her turn into the baking world may seem sharp and surprising, but after getting to know Steph, I can’t help but feel that she was meant for this all along...that all the pieces of her life, no matter how small or disconnected at face value, are all flying together in the beautiful crescendo that is her present and future as a baker-entrepreneur extraordinaire.

Sweet Success: Q&A with Stephanie Chen of The great american baking show

Stephanie Chen brought black sesame macarons, curry puffs and a pineapple bread Santa to the third iteration of “The Great American Baking Show” this year – dazzling celebrity pastry chef Johnny Iuzzini and British cookbook author Mary Berry with her bold flavors and knack for decoration. Even though the freelance advertising executive only started seriously baking about five years ago, Chen made it all the way to the finale and nearly took home the title. She shared her experiences on the show, her love of baking and even some yummy recipes with TaiwaneseAmerican.org. Enjoy!

Four Holiday Cookies Santa Will love. Cranberry Pistachio Matcha Cookie Recipe. 

"I love this recipe because matcha is not only delicious, but it's the perfect ingredient to bring a very festive look to your cookie without adding any gross food coloring," Chen told NBC News. "I love contrast of earthiness from the matcha and pistachios, then you get the brightness of the orange infused cranberries. This cookie works great as a base for decorating with royal icing or simply decorated with a drizzle of white chocolate. Enjoy these cookies with your morning coffee, afternoon tea, or as a snack with some milk!" 

Meet the Bakers: Stephanie Chen 

Steph developed a passion for baking after her husband bought her a stand mixer one Christmas. Since then, Steph can be found in her home kitchen always whipping up her latest pop-culture inspired bake. Born into a Chinese family, Steph always tries to incorporate a little bit of her heritage into each of her bakes. Outside of the kitchen, Stephanie works as a freelance advertising/ marketing executive. Steph is passionate about video games and comic books. She is known to play several rounds of Super Mario Bros, while waiting for her cakes to cool.

Stephanie Chen in ABC Baking Show

Stephanie Chen, the second daughter of Chen Carol, is good at baking desserts and has recently become the top ten finalists of the "Best American Baking Show" on ABC TV. One of them. The program will be broadcast on Dec. 1 at 9:00 pm and will be broadcasted over eight episodes. Each of the baking projects will be different. Chen will win compete to win the title of "the best American baker".

Stephanie was very excited to be one of the ten finalists who could stand out from thousands of applicants. As a result of the contract with the organizers signed a confidential contract, she would not disclose any details, only said that the competition is actually learning process, because there are still a lot of baking material she is not familiar with, but it does have a lot of fun, and very much looking forward to the program broadcast.

Last year, only married Stephanie, will like baking, from five years ago or boyfriend's husband, at Christmas time to give her a set of pastries with a vertical mixer. "I used to like dessert, and when I was a child my parents had sent me a set of home wine toys, I really like, so at that time would like to start to try homemade pastry!"

Stephanie said that because of being born in the Chinese family, even if it is very cooking grandmother rarely baking dessert, so the family is difficult to give her advice, is entirely through their own online simulation of how people baking dessert, step by step to learn.