Veruska Samenz brought her pastry artistry to Spring Baking Championship
In Spring Baking Championship Season 7, Veruska Samenz has had her ups and downs on the Spring Board. While the Food Network show was an important opportunity for the pastry chef, Veruska appreciates that it is just one step in her food journey. What pastry adventures will be served on her plate?
Like many of the Spring Baking Championship bakers, Veruska appreciated the opportunity that the Food Network gave her. The owner of Cake and Flourish in New Jersey has applied her the hotel pastry experience to her new endeavor.
Recently, FoodSided spoke with Veruska about her Spring Baking Championship experience, her thoughts on how food connects people and why beautiful food can be inspiring.
Each of the Spring Baking Championship bakers have a reason for taking the Food Network challenge. For Veruska, she said, “I always dreamed of being on TV in the later part of my career so when I got a call that it would come sooner than I ever imagined, I jumped on the opportunity. I love going out of my comfort zone and trying out new things, and of course challenging myself in new ways!”
For this season, the bakers have varied backgrounds and specialties. Veruska had previously worked in a well-known hotel. Regarding that experience, she said, “I believe working at the hotel gave me the tools I needed to work quickly and efficiently. Those tools are absolutely necessary when competing on the Spring Baking Championship!”
In Spring Baking Championship Season 7, the bakers have been tasked with some difficult challenges. While flavor is always paramount, the visuals has been quite stunning this season.
When asked about the artistry in pastry, Veruska shared, “The saying goes, we eat with our eyes first! Whenever we shop or consume anything, it’s the appearance that draws our eyes in. It can be the texture of a dessert, or the color that captures you. These are the small details that every artist focus on to gain attention and have the customer coming back.”
Although that visual entices many people to take that first bite, the flavor and the special connection brings people back for another taste. For Veruska, family and food are deeply connected.
Veruska said, “Growing up in a Latino culture, food is of paramount importance. It’s how we show love, compassion, empathy and friendship. In my travels around the world, I have grown to see this way of viewing food as universal, regardless of the language. Food is something we all share, in different forms, but for the same purpose.”
Whether or not Veruska walks away with the Spring Baking Championship title may not be the biggest takeaway from the Food Network program. For her, the benefit to her growing pastry business.
Veruska said, “Competing in the Spring Baking Championship has helped my business grow tremendously! People love to support a local artist and I have been sent so many emails of encouragement and praise for my work. My audience has grown from clients who are local, to people all over the country! That is the best feeling in the world for a small business owner!”
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Veruska Samenz is the owner of Cake and Flourish.
Spring Baking Championship airs on Food Network Monday nights at 9 p.m. and streams on discovery+.