Is it cake or a clutch purse, or a cake or a can of Coke, or a cake or a cardboard box from Amazon?
Those are typical questions when it comes to the Netlix reality competition series "Is It Cake?" The show is back for a second season of eight episodes, all available for viewing now.
We all know Acadiana folks can cook, but apparently they're bosses at baking, too. Last season, Carencro's Nina Maria Charles was among the nine contestants, and this season, Louisianans can root for Kayla Giddings, of Lafayette.
For Season 2, which is being called "Is It Cake, Too?", Giddings, 33, is one of 10 contestants competing in a revised format from last season, with contestants being eliminated as the season progresses. The prize pot is $120,000, with all the hopefuls wanting a slice of that pie in the end.
Corterrius Allen, from left, Dayna Smith, Justin Salinas, Kayla Giddings, Liz Marek, Pete Tidwell Jarid Altmark are among this season's competitors on 'Is It Cake?'
"Saturday Night Live’s" Mikey Day returns as host.
The show synopsis goes like this: "Deception is the name of the game for the world’s most talented bakers who will compete to create hyper-realistic cakes that look exactly like everyday objects — with cash on the line. But are they good enough to deceive a panel of celebrity judges … and you? You’ll be asking yourself ‘is it real?’ Or … Is It Cake?”
Giddings is no strange to TV competitions — she's been on five Food Network contests — "Chocolate Meltdown: Hershey's After Dark," "Cake Wars" "Cake Masters," "Santa's Baking Blizzard" and "Food Network Challenge" — winning four of them.
Giddings has been creating cakes since she was 19. After working as a high school teacher for seven years, she took the plunge into baking full-time.
No roaring here — just a cake almost too pretty to eat.
In addition to making custom cakes, Giddings also judges cake competitions and teaching cake classes. On a personal note, she's a newlywed and has a 10-year-old daughter.
On the eve of the show's premiere, Giddings stepped away from the kitchen long enough to answer a few questions:
You started baking at 19. What did you make at first? Any comical failures?
At first I started making baby shower cakes, birthday cakes … they were really lumpy and bumpy as I like to call them. Not very clean or anything and I just got more and more determined to make them better so I started watching YouTube videos. My very first cake, I didn't realize that I was supposed to put icing underneath the fondant on a cake, so I just covered the cake with fondant. It was dry and super weird. Everyone acted like they loved it though!
What subject(s) did you teach and where?
I taught sixth grade science at Judice Middle School for three years and I taught ninth-12th English and speech at Acadiana High for four years. I resigned last August. It was a hard decision, I miss the students, but my dreams are in cake. So, I had to give all my time to cake and with that came the adventure of "Is it Cake, Too?"
What are some of the cakes you’re most proud of?
A preztel and beer cake is another of Kayla Giddings' prized creations.
I am most proud of a cake I made on "Food Network Challenge." It was a scene from the movie "A Christmas Story." I really challenged myself and it came out amazing. I also made a huge hamburger cake for my brother's wedding. I love that one. It is so much fun to get to be there and see how people react to the cake.
When did the hyper-realistic cake making come about?
Not long after the first season of "Is it Cake?" came out, it became a really big thing on social media and TikTok. About two years ago, I had made a hyper-realistic BBQ ribs cake and I made a very realistic pretzel cake. It is just so fun to expect something savory and when you cut it, it's cake!
You made your brother’s groom’s cake. Did you also make the bride’s cake? If so, describe it.
I did make the bride's cake. Luckily my sister-in-law wanted something simple and rustic, so I made her a semi-naked wedding cake. That is basically a wedding cake that isn't fully iced. It's really pretty and it allowed me to spend extra time on the groom's cake. One single cake can take anywhere from 10-20 hours to make, sometimes more. I think with all the time-lapse videos out there, it is hard for people to grasp how long a cake really takes to make. So, taking on both of their cakes was a real task, but it worked out since one cake was much more simple than the other.
You’ve been on five baking competition shows previously. Which one didn’t you win?
I didn't win "Santa's Baking Blizzard." My friend, Fallon Bearb, and my sister, Krista LaCombe, were my partners on this show and we had a blast competing … got to meet some great people, but unfortunately didn't take home the win on that one.
Kayla Giddings says one of her hyper-realistic confections can take anywhere from 10-20 hours to make, sometimes longer.
Were you contacted to be on "Is It Cake, Too?" or did you apply?
I was contacted at first. I got a call asking if I had any interest in being on the show and of course I was! So, from there I had to go through the application process. I didn't expect to get on. This show is next level compared to the other shows I have been on.
How was the experience of that show as compared to the others?
Filming with Netflix to make "Is It Cake, Too?" was the wildest ride. That is the only way I can explain it. There are some extremely exciting twists, which I am not used to. It was super hard at times, made me question my sanity at other times. It is definitely the most fun I have had filming a show.
What has been your oddest request so far from a cake customer?
I had a customer ask for me to make a dog peeing on a RockBox (portable speaker) … that was one really different, came out cute though. I also did a wedding cake where the bride had me sculpt her two dogs for the cake topper … that was pretty odd, but turned out to be a super cute idea.
Do you have a shop or work from home?
I am a home baker. I have a home cake studio dedicated to teaching classes locally and where I make all of my cakes. Sometimes I also teach classes at A Baker's Choice, which is a local (Lafayette) cake supply store.
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