The Proving Drawer
Longer reads between episodes: show fan guides, the judges and hosts, season recaps, side-by-side comparisons, and what the winners did once they stepped out of the tent and the kitchens.
August 20, 2026
Jesse Rosenwald: Where Are They Now?
What happened to Jesse Rosenwald after winning MasterChef US in 2025 alongside partner Jessica Bosworth in the show's first team season.
August 20, 2026
Sian Redgrave: Where Are They Now?
What happened to Sian Redgrave after winning The Great Australian Bake Off in 2015, from Perth fashion stylist to sought-after Sydney food stylist and recipe developer.
August 19, 2026
Jennifer Behm: Where Are They Now?
What happened to Jennifer Behm after winning MasterChef US in 2011, from her Rhode Island restaurant Red Fin Crudo to private chef work.
August 19, 2026
Nancy Ho: Where Are They Now?
What happened to Nancy Ho after winning the first Great Australian Bake Off in 2013, from architecture graduate to Le Cordon Bleu trained pastry chef in Brisbane.
August 18, 2026
Famous Cupcake Wars Winners and Their Bakeries
The most famous Cupcake Wars winners and what they built, from Chloe Coscarelli's vegan empire to Abby Jimenez's bestsellers and Kyra Bussanich's gluten-free wins.
August 18, 2026
How to Tell When Dough Is Fully Proofed
How to tell when dough is properly proofed, the poke test explained, and what under-proofed and over-proofed dough actually look like.
August 18, 2026
Jennifer Barney: Where Are They Now?
What happened to Jennifer Barney after winning Holiday Baking Championship in 2017, from a home bakery to Meringue Bakery & Café in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
August 17, 2026
Jason Smith: Where Are They Now?
What happened to Jason Smith after winning Holiday Baking Championship in 2016, from Food Network Star champion to a career as a Food Network host and judge.
August 17, 2026
Jonathan Bennett: Halloween Wars Host Profile
Who is Jonathan Bennett? How the Mean Girls actor became Food Network's go-to host, from Cake Wars and Cupcake Wars to his long run fronting Halloween Wars.
August 16, 2026
Jasmine Mitchell: Where Are They Now?
What happened to Jasmine Mitchell after winning The Great British Bake Off in 2025, from a record-setting run of Star Baker wins to continuing her medical degree.
August 16, 2026
Shinmin Li: Halloween Wars Judge Profile
Who is Shinmin Li? The cake artist behind I Dream of Cake and the only judge to serve on every season of Food Network's Halloween Wars since 2011.
August 15, 2026
Jane Soudah: Where Are They Now?
What happened to Jane Soudah after winning Spring Baking Championship in 2016, from her Sweet Jane's Bakeshop to a dessert cookbook.
August 15, 2026
Ron Ben Israel: Cake Wars Judge Profile
Who is Ron Ben-Israel? From a professional dance career to founding Ron Ben-Israel Cakes, hosting Sweet Genius, and judging Food Network's Cake Wars.
August 14, 2026
Florian Bellanger: Cupcake Wars Judge Profile
Who is Florian Bellanger? The French pastry chef's road from Fauchon and Le Bernardin to co-founding Mad Mac macarons and judging all 11 seasons of Cupcake Wars.
August 14, 2026
Jaleesa Mason: Where Are They Now?
What happened to Jaleesa Mason after winning Spring Baking Championship in 2022, from pastry chef to co-owner of Mo & Jay Pastry in New Jersey.
August 13, 2026
Buddy Valastro: From Cake Boss to Buddy vs Duff
Who is Buddy Valastro? From taking over Carlo's Bakery at 17 to Cake Boss, Buddy vs Duff, a devastating 2020 hand injury, and his recovery and new shows.
August 13, 2026
Holiday Baking Championship Season 9: Recap, Bakes and Winner
Season 9 recap: Dru Tevis's 2022 win in a season with a smaller documented finalist field than most.
August 12, 2026
Buddy vs Duff: Who Won Each Season?
Who won every season of Buddy vs Duff, with the cumulative judges' scores for all four seasons and the 2-2 all-time series record.
August 12, 2026
Holiday Baking Championship Season 8: Recap, Bakes and Winner
Season 8 recap: Adam Monette's 2021 win, with Carla Hall settled into her second season on the judging panel.
August 11, 2026
Cake Wars Christmas: The Holiday Spinoff Explained
What Cake Wars Christmas was, when the 2015 and 2016 holiday editions aired, how they fit into the Cake Wars season numbering, and why fans still search for them.