The Great Canadian Baking Show has come down to the final three and Tsawwassen’s Lauren Tjoe is part of the trio.
Tjoe was named Star Baker in the seventh episode of the show, deemed Fancy Dessert Week, which aired last Sunday (Nov. 13) on CBC. The series was produced and taped over the summer in Toronto, so Tjoe has not been able to give a hint about how it ends and who walks away with the title of Canada’s Best Amateur Baker.
But on Sunday, she was named Star Baker because of her jelly art cake named Dino Island that automatically got her into the final.
“I don’t believe that a professional chef could have made it better,” said judge Bruno Feldeisen. “Keep baking that way.”
Tjoe said she was happy with getting this far, she said Tuesday by email.
“I’d just like to say that I am so grateful and humbled to have made it to the finale. Chi (Nguyen) and Zoya (Thawer) are two of the most creative and talented individuals that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting,” Tjoe said.
Nguyen and Thawer are the other two remaining bakers.
“Being able to bake alongside them has been the greatest honour and I’ve had so much fun being in the tent with them over eight whole episodes,” Tjoe said. “I’m looking forward to watching the finale with my friends and family on Sunday and hopefully I’ve done Delta – Tsawwassen proud!”
Tjoe, 21, is a finance student at UBC. According to her profile on the show’s website, she is a “self-described, 21-year-old grandma.”
In addition to baking, her hobbies include knitting, crocheting, sewing, and collecting vintage tea pots. She also likes classic cars, especially from the 1950s and 1960s and heavy metal. And she’d really like to get a 1986 Toyota MR2.
Lauren’s mom Kim said that the 10 bakers who participated in the show have become like family and that their friendship and support of each other is inspirational.
“Lauren's entire family is absolutely over the moon with her accomplishments on the show so far, and we are incredibly grateful that she has had this opportunity,” Kim said.
One of the challenges, the Show Stopper, in the finale, asks the three remaining bakers to bake a garden party dessert centrepiece.
The final episode of the show airs this Sunday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. on CBC. The shows are also on CBC’s Gem online service.
