Houston – Local baker Hemu Basu is no stranger to the spotlight. With appearances on Food Network and Netflix, she says these competitions have changed her life.
Basu is also no stranger to Houston Life. Her appearance on November 11 marks her third time in Studio B. She tells co-hosts Derrick Shore and Tessa Barrera she recently competed in a new show premiering on Food Network on Thursday, November 14. According to a press release, Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking is a ground-breaking series that “blends legendary storytelling and fantastical edible creations in a never-before-seen competition that will have audiences at the edge of their seats.” Nine teams of pastry chefs and cake artists are tasked with crafting spellbinding edible showpieces inspired by moments and themes from the Harry Potter saga.
Basu says the best part of being on the show was how magical the set was as if she was actually in the movies. The magical enchantment of the beloved movie franchise is present in the competition as competitors present their creations on iconic set locations like Platform 9 3/4, The Great Hall, Gringotts Wizarding Bank, and Diagon Alley.
On Houston Life, Basu taught Shore and Barrera how to make an easy layered cake dessert using cake, icing, and toppings. She mentions it’s a perfect treat for holiday parties that your guests can enjoy at the gathering or on the go.
Being the cake maser she is, she also conjured up a few spells and showed viewers the framed Veteran’s Day eagle picture frame on set was made out of cake all along.
Her partner was Riccardo Menicucci, executive pastry chef at Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles. Basu tells us she did not know who her partner was at the start of the competition. She says Menicucci taught her a lot about desserts for fine dining.
Catch Basu on Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking on the Food Network Thursday, Novem 11 at 7:00 p.m. CST.
Watch the player above to watch Basu’s full interview.