‘Such an honor’: Bay City baker is finalist in Cake Boss competition
BAY CITY, Mich. (WNEM) - Two bakers from mid-Michigan are giving some of the best bakers in America a run for their money in the national Cake Boss competition.
TV5′s Lauren Piesko talked with one of the contestants, who only began baking during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hanna Facundo is a 20-year old baker from Bay City and a finalist for Cake Boss Buddy Valastro’s annual competition the Greatest Baker.
“It’s already shocking to me that I’ve made it this far, and it’s such an honor that I’ve even been able to be a part of it,” Facundo said.
She splits her time between her small business, Hanna’s Cakery, planning her wedding, and her job at Heidi’s Darn Good Cookies in Bay City. Before that, she was a cake decorator at Baskin Robbins, where family and friends quickly began putting in their requests for cakes and cupcakes.
“There was one time at my brother’s birthday party where I made this Hulk cake and my grandma, my mee-maw, had texted me when we were done and she said, ‘Hanna, you need to start your own business, I will support you 100 percent through it all,’” Facundo said. “And literally an hour after that, I made my Facebook account and my Instagram account and I just felt inspired.”
Her number one helper through it all is her fiancé Gabe Velazquez.
“I’ve never been more proud of her. This is always something she’s wanted to do and I think it’s just the most exciting part doing this, helping her, you know, getting her to where she needs to be,” Velazquez said. “And I think she’s done a lot of that on her own as well.”
He helps out with packaging and deliveries and said the best part of his day is coming home to Facundo and helping her bake.
“I love helping out my fiancée more than anything in the world. You know, this is her life, this is her job, this is her passion, and I would do anything to continue this with her,” Velazquez said.
Hanna ended in 10th place in the quarter finals and helped raise money for the B+ Foundation – aiding pediatric cancer research with the donations from her votes.
What’s next for Hanna’s Cakery?
“Currently, I have my baked goods set up every weekend at the Vintage Greenhouse downtown and that was a huge step in my career for me. A year ago today, I wasn’t even getting any orders and it’s just crazy how far I’ve gotten,” Facundo said. “In a year, hopefully, I’ll be working my way towards having my own storefront, my own bakery—hopefully.”
The other Bay City contestant, Natalia Luke, has now moved up to 4th place in the semi-finals.
The winner of the contest will win $10,000 and share their work in “Bake From Scratch” magazine.
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