'Best experience ever': B.C. baker on making it to the finals of Netflix's 'Is it Cake?'
When Jujhar Mann said he wanted to be a pastry chef on a grade school career project, he didn't imagine that pursuing his dream would land him on a popular Netflix baking competition.
"I thought that never would become a reality," Mann told CTV Morning Live Wednesday. "Everything is just going amazing."
Not only is Mann now professionally trained as a baker, but he has his own shop in Surrey, B.C., and was a finalist in the latest season of Netflix's Is It Cake?
The show challenges bakers to make edible recreations of everyday objects that are realistic enough to trick a panel of judges. On the show, the baker's cake is lined up – at a distance – among other similar-looking objects. The judges then have 20 seconds to choose which of the items before them is the cake.
"It was the best experience ever. It was super intense," Mann said. "We didn't have a lot of time to make these hyper-realistic cakes, but I had the best time ever."
Mann explained bakers were required to do a lot of quick thinking and were given eight hours to create their culinary masterpiece.
Mann made it to the finals, where he impressed the judges with a peacock cake. While he did not fool the panel, his bake was described as "astonishing."
"I've been obsessed with baking shows since I was a kid. So my love for baking began from there," Mann said Wednesday. "You can create something so beautiful and so delicious just with your hands and I just find it so much fun."
Mann, who specializes in custom cakes and French pastries, said he loves to combine his cultures in his baking to produce unique flavours like mango cardamom entremets or rose kulfi opera cakes.
Mann said he's received a lot of public support from customers at his bakery – which he opened in 2022 – after the season came out on Netflix.
"I'm so surprised. The community has always been so supportive, but it's just been so amazing having, you know, little kids come and parents coming saying, 'you inspired my son or daughter to become a baker,'" he said. "The response has been so incredible and I'm so grateful."
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Keri Adams
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6972157.1721587842!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Joe Biden drops out of 2024 race, endorses Kamala Harris to be Democratic nominee
U.S. President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for re-election after doubts were raised about his fitness for office. Soon after, he endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris to take his place in the November election.
Justin Trudeau reacts to Joe Biden announcing he won't run for re-election
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to the news that U.S. President Joe Biden won’t run for re-election Sunday, calling Biden a 'true friend.'
Joe Biden wants to pass the baton to Kamala Harris. Here's how that might work
With U.S. President Joe Biden ending his re-election bid and endorsing Vice-President Kamala Harris, Democrats now must navigate a shift that is unprecedented this late in an election year.
The pilot who died in crash after releasing skydivers near Niagara Falls has been identified
NEW YORK (AP) — Officials on Sunday released the name of a pilot who died in a skydiving flight after her passengers jumped from the aircraft near the Niagara Falls.
Woman found dead in the water near Sunset Beach: Vancouver police
Investigators were at Vancouver’s Sunset Beach after a woman’s body was found in the water Sunday morning, according to authorities.
Ottawa man waiting nearly a year for car to be fixed at Acura dealership
An Ottawa man says he’s been waiting nearly a year for his car to be repaired after it was damaged during a storm in August.
Canadian musicians struggle to get visas to perform in the U.S., some cancel shows
Backlogs and processing delays of temporary U.S. visas required by entertainers, athletes and artists has forced some Canadian bands to cancel U.S. tour dates because paperwork wasn't processed in time.
Joy in Newfoundland after 'Lucky 7' fishers survive harrowing days lost at sea
There was a powerful word being repeated in the joyful Newfoundland community of New-Wes-Valley on Sunday: 'Miracle.'
A Florida woman was killed 24 years ago. DNA evidence just helped police make an arrest in the cold case
A Florida woman’s brutal killing nearly 25 years ago may finally be solved after authorities arrested the suspect this week, according to the Sanford Police Department.