Following two days of intense competition, the retail bakery industry has crowned a pair of new cake decorating champions, both of whom started their careers in South America prior to coming to the United States. They now work at a premier cake studio in Tampa, Florida.
General Mills Foodservice is proud to announce in partnership with the Retail Bakers of America the winners for the 18th Pillsbury Bakers’ Plus Grand Champion Creative Decorating Competition, one of the baking industry’s most prestigious competitions for professional bakers.
This year’s finale, which featured six two–person teams, was held Sept. 8-9 during the International Baking Industry Expo (IBIE) in Las Vegas. The winners were announced Sept. 10.
The Retail Bakers of America (RBA) Bakers Center, brought to you by Bundy Baking Solutions, hosted baking competitions and live demonstrations from some of the biggest names in the industry, including Buddy Valastro, the Cake Boss, whose demos were standing room only. This new state-of-the art center also hosted the 18th annual Pillsbury Bakers’ Plus Grand Champion Creative Decorating Competition.
Andres Enciso and Banny Ayarza of Awesome Edible Art in Tampa won the overall first prize, competing for the first time ever in a cake decorating championship.
“This is something I have been working toward for 15 years of hard work,” said Enciso, who owns Awesome Edible Art, a contract cake decorating studio, and is a native of Colombia. “I am very honored.”
Ayarza joined the Tampa cake shop three years ago after working as a cake decorator for eight years in her native Peru. She provided the inspiration for the team’s winning fondant cake, which was an interpretation of a “prom-posal” that featured fondant modeling.
Placing second overall was the team of Robbyn Yuen and Ashley Spitzer of Creative Cakes, Tinley Park, Illinois.
Third place overall went to Robyn Hanisch and Wanda Munoz-Jovet of Hanisch Bakery and Coffee Shop, Red Wing, Minnesota.
Professional judges were Bronwen Weber, Jorg Amsler and Nicolas Lodge.
Other 2019 contestants included:
Elizabeth Balderaz and Angela Negron, Faux Cakes and Rentals, Houston, Texas
Justine Martin and Josee Frappier, Guilty Pleasures Bakeshop + Bar, Sudbury, Ontario
Jen Barney and Jessica Miller, Meringue Bakery, Stoddard, Wisconsin
The Pillsbury Bakers’ Plus Grand Champion Creative Decorating Competition calls on professional cake decorators to showcase their creativity, imagination, artistry and skills.
Top three finishers in each category
Fondant Category Sponsored by Satin Ice
- Andres Enciso and Banny Ayarza, Awesome Edible Art
- Elizabeth Balderaz and Angela Negron, Faux Cakes and Rentals
- Jen Barney and Jessica Miller, Meringue Bakery
Sculpted Category Sponsored by American Cake Decorating
- Robbyn Yuen and Ashley Spitzer, Creative Cakes Bakery
- Andres Enciso and Banny Ayarza, Awesome Edible Art
- Justine Martin and Josee Frappier, Guilty Pleasures Bakeshop + Bar
Buttercream Category Sponsored by Qualisoy
- Robbyn Yuen and Ashley Spitzer, Creative Cakes Bakery
- Robyn Hanisch and Wanda Munoz-Jovet, Hanisch Bakery and Coffee Shop
- Jen Barney and Jessica Miller, Meringue Bakery
Wedding Category Sponsored by CakeDeco
- Andres Enciso and Banny Ayarza, Awesome Edible Art
- Robbyn Yuen and Ashley Spitzer, Creative Cakes Bakery
- Robyn Hanisch & Wanda Munoz-Jovet, Hanisch Bakery and Coffee Shop
