Aarti Sequeira

Alex Guarnaschelli hosts as chefs square off in a competitive pop-up kitchen outside a grocery store. To make their challenge dishes, the chefs must size up shoppers as they exit the store and negotiate for their grocery bags.

In each of the six hour-long episodes, four bakers, along with their assistants, must bake non-stop in 3 rounds for 2 hours each. They first must complete creative cookies, next is decadent cupcakes and, finally, a showpiece cake; all from scratch and inspired by a surprise theme. As each round nears the two hour mark, Buddy and two rotating expert judges visit each baker’s station to taste and critique their sweets. With time still running and the bakers continuing to work, the judges determine the baker’s item on the bottom of the batch and send them home; until the last round when a winner is declared from the 2 remaining bakers. It’s a battle against the clock and the winning baker gets to finally relax on a dream vacation of their choice!