Plot Synopsis

Hosted by Stephanie Boswell and Ludo Lefebvre, NEXT BAKING MASTER: PARIS is a one-hour reality series that gives ten ambitious and highly-skilled American bakers unprecedented access to the most iconic pastry shops, as well as mentoring from renowned French baking experts. The series demands that competitors prove their mettle in the pillars of great baking and pastry: technique, artistry, flavor, innovation, and inspiration. Each week, the lowest performing baker will be sent home -- until only one is named Next Baking Master. The ten bakers competing for bragging rights, a full suite of France's top-of-the-line professional kitchen appliances and baking equipment valued at $25,000 are: DeAndra Bailey (Baltimore, Maryland); Brooke De Jong (Dothan, Alabama); Jeremy Intille (Minneapolis, Minnesota); Lindsay Miller (Los Angeles, California); Keely Moore (Atlanta, Georgia); Paige Nickless (Brooklyn, New York); Joe Settepani (Morganville, New Jersey); Cedrick Simpson (Atlanta, Georgia); Robert Toland (Willingboro, New Jersey) and Jennalyn Walbolt (Union, New Jersey).

In the supersized 90-minute premiere, Stephanie and Ludo welcome the bakers to Paris for their first challenge: make a dessert that represents their culinary point of view, while demonstrating their knowledge of French techniques. The bakers are then whisked away on a field trip to the luxurious Royal Monceau Hotel to meet pastry chef Quentin Lechat, sample his delicacies and learn about a fundamental French ingredient: cream. Once they get back to the kitchen, they must demonstrate both technique and innovation as they create one showstopping cake that features two uses of cream to determine who will be named the creme de la creme. Upcoming episodes feature a visit to famed Jade Genin Chocolate with a lesson from Jade herself, a quintessential French souffle challenge and a trip to Laduree, the most iconic patisserie in the world.
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On Monday, June 17, 2024 from 9-11pm ET/PT, Food Network premiered back-to-back episodes to close out the first season of NEXT BAKING MASTER: PARIS:

"Like a Fine Wine and Cheese" (9pm): The final four bakers are enveloped in the iconic pairing of wine and cheese as hosts Stephanie Boswell and Ludo Lefebvre send them to a fromagerie where they'll shop for a dessert spotlighting cheese! Then, the bakers set sail on a river cruise with sommelier Crislaine Medina and her lesson in delectable French wine and cheese pairings. Back in the kitchen, the competitors apply what they've learned to create a perfect pairing of two desserts featuring a French wine or liqueur.

"Let Them Eat Cake" (10pm): Hosts Stephanie Boswell and Ludo Lefebvre whisk the three finalists away to the most iconic patisserie in the world, Laduree, where they meet pastry chef Julien Alvarez and taste his magnificent macarons. In their final challenge, the bakers must put it all on the plate and create a phenomenal three-course dessert tasting menu, showcasing all of their skills and all of the new techniques they've learned in order to be named the next baking master!