Did Norman Davis Just Won Challenge?
Decorating By cakeladyatLA Updated 21 Jan 2009 , 5:06pm by costumeczar
The last couple of times I've seen Bronwen she has been getting into the "movement" thing with her cakes. She's broadening her horizons I guess, but, I haven't liked her cakes for a while really.
As a rule I like Jason's cakes, but, for whatever reason he seemed to be having a bad day. And what was wrong with Norman involving the kids? The others didn't really seem interested in them. Let's face it...ANY teenager is high maintenance...LOL He sold his cake didn't he?
Beth in KY
PS With indydebi all the way. All that matters is what the CLIENT wants.
When I make a cake or cookies for someone, it's no longer 'my cake'. It's 'your cake'. If you don't like it, it's my problem to fix it.
The kids said right at the beginning they didn't want bright colors, and Bronwen's first move was to put bright yellow fondant on the largest tier?! I think she tried to cover it with the fondant shapes, but I'm wondering why she didn't airbrush it when she realized they didn't like it.
A technical problem perhaps? Would it not have had time to dry?
When they were interviewing Bronwen and she said that she didn't like challenges where the clients choose the winner because "they don't know anything about cake decorating" I just about had a fit. I gave my kids unsolicited lecture # 67 about why cake decorating contests are flawed, because the judges look at the technical side and not the big picture. It's interesting to me that the "best in show" cakes and the "people's choice" cakes in contests are usually not the same ones. Personally, I'd rather see something interesting and fun that's technically slightly off than something technically perfect with no personality.
The pp's who said that the client is the final judge are exactly right, and that's what I was screeching at my kids last night after Bronwen's comment!
I can get the best deal in town but if the salesman is a schmuck, forget it.
I actually use this as part of my sales pitch. I tell them, "If I'm the first person you've sampled, you need to check with at least one other baker/caterer. You're about to spend a lot of money on this event and you want to make sure that you're getting what you want, that fits your style, your theme and your personality. You also want to make sure your vendors match your personality. I may have the best price and the best tasting cake in town but if I'm a real bag to work with, you just don't need that on your wedding day! (then I put on my best Banna-Smile and say in my best southern gramma accent) I hope I've passed that test with you today!" 
I agree with those who were frustrated by the logo request at the end! It was so unfair of them to ask! I also wish Norman would have left the film reels in. I thought that his original design with the reels made the chocolate curls look like popcorn, and it was such a neat idea! I know the triplets said they didn't like them, but at one point in the show, the narrator (forgot his name!) said that surprise clients change their minds every hour. I wish Norman would have taken a chance on it. I feel like it would have incorporated their interests better, and I bet they would have liked it in the end. And really, what were they expecting when the triplets negated each others "likes"?? I'm a twin, and I'd try to agree with my sister on SOMETHING!! Give the decorators a chance!
I also have a favor to ask regarding the titles to topics like this. I DVRed this last night with the intention of watching it today. (Hubby was watching NFL and ESPN.) I logged on this morning and saw the title in the "Latest Forum Topics". I was disappointed about the spoiler!! I didn't open the thread, but the title was enough to spoil it for me. Please, could we refer to it as "FN Challenge tonight" or something and not give anything away?
Yeah, the film reels would have been freaking awesome. I was sad the kids nixed that idea and Norm didn't stick to his guns. Guess that's why he took home 10K though! I thought it was great that he sold himself to the kids. I don't know what was up with Bronwen. She did not look happy throughout the whole challenge whereas she's usually quite bubbly. She seemed annoyed. And Jason was totally PMS'ing. Jeez.
I loved Cindy's cake and Jason's cake. Bronwen's was ugly IMO and Norm's was interesting but kind of boring.
Wish I was a cake judge. LOL I would tell Norm to take Lorraine's classes.
I was sad the kids nixed that idea and Norm didn't stick to his guns. Guess that's why he took home 10K though!
Luv this!
So someone didn't "stick to his guns" and made the cake the client actually wanted ... Hmmmm ... that's a no-brainer on why he took home the $10K, huh?
I still think they should have another (non-celebrity) cake decorator be the "client" for one of these challenges. I've never had a cool birthday cake
Ditto that! And I would do what my son suggested as we watched the show and the triplets were telling the designers their likes and dislikes: "I'd tell them I HATE fondant. Just to see their reaction."
Ditto that! And I would do what my son suggested as we watched the show and the triplets were telling the designers their likes and dislikes: "I'd tell them I HATE fondant. Just to see their reaction."
That WOULD be hilarious! I'd love to see what they could do with all buttercream.......kinda like tying one of their arms behind their backs, I bet!
Have they ever had an all Buttercream challange?
I'd also like to see them actually MAKE and BAKE the tiers themselves on the show. Including the fillings, icings, fondant etc......Now that's the REAL life of a custom cake maker/decorator. They all seem to just focus on the decorating and not so much on the baking.
I love both, Norman and Bronwen, whenever I see them at the same challenge, I don't know which one should win. I agree with some of you, I think Norman could have done much better, IMHP, he is so talented,and also, at the begining he said that he was going to use the movie reels, that he knew more because he was older and the cake artist, I think he meant he could envision the final cake better than the triplets, but his professionalism won against his ego, and it showed when he decided to do what the clients wanted, (no reels), and we saw the result! 10K . Besides he did not say anything bad about any of the other competitors cakes or anything, I really don't like it when they do that.
Now, if Mike would have been there, the name of this thread would be different!
OH AS IF!!!! I'd LOVE to know when any of them made the last cake or filling.... they have kitchen-grunts for that stuff.
Personally I'd love to see an all-buttercream challenge...take on a real bridezilla and see how they handle themselves......now that would be Prime Time TV 
I would love to see an all buttercream challenge too. That would be so interesting. I would LOVE to see them CLEANING the kitchen after the challenge, well, after they make the cake, the fillings the icing and decorate the cake. Then, clean the kitchen. That would be a real challenge.
?
Yes, lame challenge. I didn't see anything really new.
Whats up with all the "painting" fondant and NOT using an airbrush?
After the simpson's cake challenge and the judges saying (Re: bronwen's cake) its not just about the donut....I kinda lost faith in the judges.
Yes the Cake girls cake was great... but to just throw a comment about the donut.... DOH! Is all I gotta say.
I wanna see BC 3D Animal Challenge.
Don't get me wrong, fondant is hard to perfect, but I can show my mom how to cover a round cake in fondant and add some star cut outs and it would look pretty good!
[quote="jkalman"
I didn't like Bronwen's cake either... she rubs me the wrong way for some reason. /quote]
Me too......sometimes she can come across like, "I'm Bronwen Weber for crying out loud...how DARE you not LIKE my cake?" I'm sure at least ONE of her clients hasn't liked their cake!
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that she annoys. I've not met her but I here she is wonderful in person. To me she comes across lately as the Queen of the Cake Challenges. I've met Norman a couple of times and he is just a wonderful, sweet man. He's had some problems though recently with his cakes on those challenges and glad to see he won.
The OP asked a question DID he win?, not hollered He won, he WON!!!
I personally don't think the question was inappropriate, but what would be better for those of you who didn't want to see a name in the title?
It didn't bother me casue I saw the challenge already, but I can see why it would irk someone who taped it. Maybe something like "I can't believe who just won the challenge on FN..."
?
The OP asked a question DID he win?, not hollered He won, he WON!!!
I personally don't think the question was inappropriate, but what would be better for those of you who didn't want to see a name in the title?
what would be better? ummm, *not* seeing a name in the title...
what would be better? ummm, *not* seeing a name in the title...
I agree! Like I suggested on the previous page of this thread, maybe just title it "Food Network Challenge last night" or whatever the challenge name is? There is a thread in the Lounge titled "FNC Birthday Bombshell- what do you think?" That is a GREAT example of what to title these types of posts!
Whoa! Let's not ruin a perfectly good thread by arguing about what the TITLE should be!!!
Not trying to ruin the thread, lol, but it seems like most everyone reading this and enjoying it has seen it whereas there are some of us who can't watch the shows live..... and I have to say I was a little peeved to see the mention of a winner (potential or otherwise) in the title......this is the land of TiVo's so I haven't had a chance to watch this yet!
What about putting **SPOILER** or something like that instead of mentioning a contestants name? Even on Internet Movie Database (IMDB.com) they will delete posts that give away any part of the movie in the title of the thread. And polite posters (not saying OP is not polite of course, they probably didn't even realize it might spoil the ending for others) will add **SPOILER** to either the title or the very beginning of the message as a courtesy warning to others.
I don't think this is an unreasonable request. I am always careful when signing onto Excite, etc. if I have yet to watch the finale of shows like Survivor or the Amazing Race, since we know they always post the winner but it never occured to me I had to avoid CC prior to watching Challenges, lol. 
Regardless, I am eager to watch this. I have always loved Bronwein but it sounds like she may be getting ahead of herself. In the overall scheme of things, not that big of a deal but I am wondering maybe why no one has asked to change the title for the thread so as not to potentially 'blow it' for others? Just a thought.......
I'm not arguing. I'm just asking for no spoilers next time. I really enjoy watching challenges, but I want it to be a surprise. I think dailey and I are just asking for some consideration when people are writing titles to posts like this, so we (and so many others who hadn't watched it yet!!) can watch it without knowing the ending.
Whoa! Let's not ruin a perfectly good thread by arguing about what the TITLE should be!!!
I don't think anyone is arguing....it sounds very civil to me...
You're right, it's civil. But we all know how the claws can suddenly come out of nowhere around here 
Anyhoo, I didn't get into this challenge very much. I don't mind when they bring in clients to pick the winner, but it's a bit much when they have both clients AND judges...perhaps a bit of overkill?
And I agree that the cakes are just starting to get a bit on the ridiculous side. Just make a beautiful cake, and stop trying to do 100 different techniques that don't have anything to do with one another!
[ I don't mind when they bring in clients to pick the winner, but it's a bit much when they have both clients AND judges...perhaps a bit of overkill?
You know, that's a very good point. Why on earth did they need Kerry or any other professional there when the decision depended on the kids?
Regarding Cindy's hand painted cake - I actually liked it. Airbrush is perfect and whatnot, but you always see that in these challenges. She was probably trying to standout.
I liked the hand painted cake too. I didn't see anything wrong with it, and the criticism of it was strange, I thought. You can get a better pearl sheen if you hand paint that on, considering that the airbrushes get clogged with the pearl dust so easily.
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