The following is a press release from Food Network:
Food Network showcases the country’s most creative cupcake makers this summer in the new five-episode series Cupcake Championship, premiering Monday, July 1 at 9pm ET/PT. Hosted by Kardea Brown, each episode features four world-class cupcake experts battling to achieve new levels of edible ingenuity in two rounds of competition for a $10,000 cash prize. Judge Maureen McCormick is joined by a revolving panel of guest judges, including Nacho Aguirre, Lerome Campbell, Amirah Kassem, Stella Parks, Gesine Prado and Joshua John Russell, to determine who is named each week’s Cupcake Champion.
“The cupcakes may be small, but the artistry these bakers accomplish is huge,” said Courtney White, President, Food Network. “Our viewers will marvel at the creativity of these cupcakes – they are truly spectacular.”
Each episode kicks off with the Designer Challenge where the four contestants must create cupcakes to celebrate an event or theme, and the judges send the least successful baker home. The three remaining contestants then proceed to the Imagination Challenge, an amped-up battle to create a three-dimensional cupcake tableau with bigger displays and multiple flavor components.
In the premiere episode, the cupcake makers are challenged to make succulent plants out of cupcakes…but things get prickly when one cupcaker is eliminated by judges in the first round. The three remaining competitors take on the delicacies of beautiful flower bouquet designs to see whose flower-bouquet cupcake display will earn them the title of Cupcake Champion and the $10,000 prize. Additional challenges during the season have the competitors making edible snow globes, incredibly detailed pet designs, savory ‘food imposters’, mythical beings and even an entire planet made out of cupcakes!
Go online to find out more about this delicious competition, and head to Food Network’s Instagram page to get to know host Kardea and judge Maureen as they reveal fun facts about themselves. Stay tuned to Food Network’s Facebook page for over-the-top cupcake designs and sweet tips for making dessert masterpieces at home. Join the conversation anytime using #CupcakeChampionship.
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FOOD NETWORK (www.foodnetwork.com) is a unique lifestyle network, website and magazine that connects viewers to the power and joy of food. The network strives to be viewers’ best friend in food and is committed to leading by teaching, inspiring, empowering and entertaining through its talent and expertise. Food Network is distributed to nearly 100 million U.S. households and draws over 46 million unique web users monthly. Since launching in 2009, Food Network Magazine’s rate base has grown 13 times and is the No. 2 best-selling monthly magazine on the newsstand, with 13.5 million readers. Food Network is owned by Discovery, Inc., a global leader in real life entertainment spanning 220 countries and territories; the portfolio also includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, TLC, Investigation Discovery, and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.
The following is a press release from Food Network:
New York baker Ashley Foxen is known for creating unique, unexpected cupcakes that resemble whatever her clients imagine. Joined by her mom Denise, brother Alex and sister Lindsay, her up-and-coming business has become the go-to spot for bite-sized edible art that can fool even the most discerning eye. In the new series “Reality Cupcakes,” Food Network takes viewers behind-the-scenes as Ashley and her family create cupcakes that look like anything but cupcakes. The eight-episode series premieres Monday, August 6 with back-to-back episodes at 10pm (all times ET/PT) and 10:30pm.
“Ashley’s creativity has a unique twist – her cupcakes are so realistic that guests are in for a big surprise when they take a bite,” said Courtney White, General Manager and Executive Vice President, Programming, Food Network and HGTV. “That’s not a sushi roll, flower pot or T-bone steak – it’s a fully edible sweet creation that fools the senses!”
In the 10pm premiere episode, Ashley debuts her pastrami on rye cupcakes for a thrilled crowd at the 130th anniversary party for New York’s famous Katz’s Deli. Later, a super-chic succulent arrangement is created for sports personality Hannah Storm’s get-together and finally, the Foxen family delivers mouthwatering lamb chop cupcakes with a side of mint jelly to a backyard barbecue. Immediately following at 10:30pm, the crowds at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! are stunned by a magician’s trick using a shrunken head cupcake. Later, the gang brews up a latte made of cupcakes at a local coffee shop, complete with an edible cup and then a bachelorette party brunch toasts with Foxen-made margaritas and burrito cupcakes. Upcoming episodes feature a Shark Week-themed rooftop party with shark head cupcakes, peanut-butter and jelly school lunch cupcakes with edible milk cartons for a milestone performance of Broadway’s School of Rock and a special creation for Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade.
Head online to see the best of Ashley’s unique creations at FoodNetwork.com/RealityCupcakes and on Food Network’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Tell us which ones are your favorites using the hashtag #RealityCupcakes.
Premiering Monday, August 6 at 10pm – “All That Katz”
Ashley Foxen debuts her pastrami-on-rye cupcakes for a thrilled crowd at the 130th anniversary party for Katz’s Deli. Later, a super-chic succulent arrangement is created for a Hannah Storm get together. Finally, the Foxen family delivers mouthwatering lamb chop cupcakes complete with a side of mint jelly at a backyard barbecue.
Premiering Monday, August 6 at 10:30pm – “Thanks a Latte”
Ashley Foxen’s cupcakes aren’t just tasty — they’re magical! Crowds at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! are stunned by a magician’s trick using a shrunken head cupcake. Later, the gang brews up a latte made of cake at a local coffee shop whose patrons are delighted when they bite right through the cup. Finally, a bachelorette party toasts with margaritas and burrito cupcakes over brunch.
Premiering Monday, August 13 at 10pm – “Cupsteaks!”
The Reality Cupcakes team serves up some of the zaniest treats around! Ashley Foxen starts by tricking the owners of a New York City steakhouse with red velvet T-bone steak cupcakes. Later, the Foxens fool some kids at the Staten Island Children’s Museum by making yummy life-like cockroaches and tarantulas. Finally, the team from the Billion Oyster project orders a cupcake seafood tower with oyster cupcakes and cake shrimp cocktail.
Premiering Monday, August 13 at 10:30pm – “Killer Cupcakes”
Ashley Foxen’s cakes jump right off the plate at a rooftop Shark Week party. The Foxens then make spring roll cupcakes for an important fashion event hosted by fashion icon Nicole Miller. Finally, the hit Broadway musical School of Rock orders up a wacky school lunch in the form of peanut butter and jelly cupcakes!
Premiering Monday, August 20 at 10pm – “Cupcake Comfort Food”
Ashley Foxen makes amazing hot wing and macaroni and cheese cupcakes so realistic the Fleet Week sailors returning home can’t decide if they’re eating appetizers or desserts! She then heads to Times Square where she serves a cupcake twist on the classic New York pizza slice with famous running back David Johnson. Then in preparation of the upcoming basketball season, the folks from Excel Sports Management treat the new recruits to a backyard barbecue with corn on the cob and grilled chicken cupcakes.
Premiering Monday, August 20 at 10:30pm – “Give a Dog a Cupcake”
Ashley Foxenmakes dog-bone cupcakes for puppies and their owners at a New York City dog cafe. Later, a local influencer hosts a prom throwback party on a double-decker bus and the team from Reality Cupcakes is there for the occasion serving up edible boutonnieres, corsages and even crown cupcakes for the king and queen. Finally, some dancing stars order cupcake canapes for their soiree.
Premiering Monday, August 27 at 10pm – “Cupcakes on Parade!”
It’s summertime in NYC and Ashley Foxen is serving up some radical steampunk cupcakes at the famous Coney Island Mermaid Parade! Po’ boy cupcakes will then be served at Brooklyn’s Smorgasburg outdoor food festival and some grilled cheese cupcakes will be taken to Central Park.
Premiering Monday, August 27 at 10:30pm – “Dirt, Grease and Cupcakes”
Ashley Foxen and the gang serve up a 1950s greaser party complete with milkshake cupcakes! Later, the zany fans of the Philadelphia Union order up some Philly pretzel cupcakes and a Ben Franklin skull cupcake. Finally, the wackiest twist on a twist is when vegetarian chef Amanda orders up turkey drumstick and fried chicken cupcakes for her whole staff!
Online, see the best of Ashley’s unique creations and check them out on Food Network’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Tell us which ones are your favorites using #RealityCupcakes!
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FOOD NETWORK (www.foodnetwork.com) is a unique lifestyle network, website and magazine that connects viewers to the power and joy of food. The network strives to be viewers’ best friend in food and is committed to leading by teaching, inspiring, empowering and entertaining through its talent and expertise. Food Network is distributed to nearly 100 million U.S. households and draws over 46 million unique web users monthly. Since launching in 2009, Food Network Magazine’s rate base has grown 13 times and is the No. 2 best-selling monthly magazine on the newsstand, with 13.5 million readers. Food Network is owned by Discovery, Inc., a global leader in real life entertainment whose portfolio also includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, TLC, Investigation Discovery, and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.
The following is a press release from Cold Stone Creamery:
Cold Stone Creamery is getting the party started with a fun new flavor to help celebrate summer. Confetti Cupcake Ice Cream hits stores June 14 and is available for a limited time only.
Confetti Cupcake Ice Cream is a creative take on a classic party favorite that combines sweet and creamy Ice Cream with all the colors of the rainbow to create a delicious new summertime flavor perfect for any celebration.
“Cold Stone Creamery is ready to celebrate the summer with our family and friends and what’s more iconic for those warm summer months than the cool freshness of Cold Stone® Ice Cream shared with the ones you love? We very much look forward to seeing all our guests enjoy themselves all summer long in stores nationwide as we launch our much-anticipated Confetti Cupcake Ice Cream,” said Kate Unger, senior vice president of marketing for Cold Stone Creamery. “This new flavor is made with festive edible Rainbow Glitter and fluffy Frosting. It’s fun and fresh and with the rave reviews behind our new Confetti Cupcake Ice Cream, we’ve taken it up a few notches and created the perfect summer treat with our Party Like a Cupcake™ Creation featuring Confetti Cupcake Ice Cream mixed with Kit Kat®, Rainbow Sprinkles, Yellow Cake and Cake Batter™ Frosting. We’ve essentially fashioned the perfect way for everyone to cool off and celebrate this summer! Join us!”
Promotional Creations:
Party Like a Cupcake: Confetti Cupcake Ice Cream mixed with Kit Kat, Rainbow Sprinkles, Yellow Cake and Cake Batter™ Frosting
Confetti Cupcake Ice Cream and the Party Like a Cupcake Creation will be available June 14, 2017 through September 12, 2017.
Cold Stone Creamery announces a wondrous new ice cream flavor, Dark Chocolate Triple Berry, in honor of its partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures and the release of their action adventure film “Wonder Woman,” coming to theaters nationwide on June 2, 2017.
The promotional flavor will be featured in the Wonder Woman Berry Bold Creation, which combines the Dark Chocolate Triple Berry Ice Cream with Chocolate Shavings, Raspberries and edible Gold Glitter. The Gotta Have I® size of the new flavor and Creation will be served in a special co-branded cup, featuring an image of Wonder Woman from the film.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with Warner Bros. for this empowering and adventurous new movie,” said Kate Unger, senior vice president of marketing for Cold Stone Creamery. “Customers are going to love our super-premium ice cream and enjoy our new Wonder Woman-inspired Creation. The bold flavor of our Dark Chocolate Triple Berry Ice Cream gives it a powerful chocolaty taste that goes perfectly with Raspberries and Chocolate Shavings. Then we add Gold Glitter to give it some glam!”
In addition, Dark Chocolate Triple Berry Ice Cream will also be featured in the Triple Berry Wonder, a new Ice Cream Cupcake that comes topped with Gold Glitter and a Wonder Woman logoed chocolate medallion.
The Cold Stone Creamery “Wonder Woman”–inspired promotional items will be in stores from May 10 – June 13, 2017.
Promotional Flavor:
Dark Chocolate Triple Berry Ice Cream
Promotional Creation™:
Wonder Woman Berry Bold – Dark Chocolate Triple Berry Ice Cream with Chocolate Shavings, Raspberries and Gold Glitter
Promotional Cupcakes:
Triple Berry Wonder – Layers of moist Red Velvet Cake and Dark Chocolate Triple Berry Ice Cream, topped with Chocolate Frosting, Gold Glitter, and a Wonder Woman logoed Chocolate Medallion.
As with all Cold Stone Creamery cakes and cupcakes, the Triple Berry Wonder Cupcakes can be ordered online at www.ColdStoneCakes.com.