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  1. Venues & Destinations
  2. United States
  3. Orlando / Central Florida

Pillsbury Partners With Martha Stewart for Bake-Off Contest

Mitra Sorrells
March 28, 2012

Pillsbury held its Bake-Off Contest in a new location this year and brought in a new celebrity partner, Martha Stewart. The talk-show host chatted with contestants as they prepared their entries Monday morning inside a ballroom at the Peabody Orlando. On Tuesday she announced the million-dollar winner during a live broadcast of The Martha Stewart Show from a temporary studio in the hotel.

The contest was last held in 2010 at the Waldorf-Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. “Orlando is easily accessible from all over the United States and has many large hotels that are able to accommodate our space and service needs,” said contest manager Onju Sturlaugson. “Florida is a great destination this time of the year and has many attractions and activities if the finalists want to extend their stay after the contest.”

This was the 45th rendition of the contest that invites home cooks to create original recipes using Pillsbury products along with products from sponsors such as Progresso, Hershey’s, Land O’Lakes, and Fisher Nuts.

Setup began last Thursday inside the hotel’s Windermere Ballroom, where organizers created 100 mini kitchens—one for each contestant—equipped with a cabinet, countertop, chair, and G.E. electric range. Contestants also used nearly 1,000 measuring cups, more than 300 mixing bowls, and 270 spatulas. Along a back wall of the ballroom, 28 refrigerators held supplies such as eggs and butter.

This year's contest began online more than a year ago. A panel selected 90 recipes to become finalists and 20 that faced off in an online contest for the 10 remaining spots. Each of the 100 finalists won a trip to Orlando, a G.E. microwave oven, and $125. The grand-prize winner, selected by a panel of 12 food writers and industry executives, received $1 million and $10,000 worth of G.E. kitchen appliances.

Contestants in the Pillsbury Bake-Off worked side-by-side to prepare their entries inside a ballroom at the Peabody Orlando Monday.
Contestants in the Pillsbury Bake-Off worked side-by-side to prepare their entries inside a ballroom at the Peabody Orlando Monday.
Photo: Mitra Sorrells/BizBash
This was the first time Pillsbury has partnered with Martha Stewart for the contest.
This was the first time Pillsbury has partnered with Martha Stewart for the contest.
Photo: Mitra Sorrells/BizBash
Each of the 100 mini kitchens included a cabinet, counter space, and G.E. electric range.
Each of the 100 mini kitchens included a cabinet, counter space, and G.E. electric range.
Photo: Mitra Sorrells/BizBash
Event organizers and members of the media were allowed onto the contest floor, while the contestants' family and friends watched from the perimeter.
Event organizers and members of the media were allowed onto the contest floor, while the contestants' family and friends watched from the perimeter.
Photo: Mitra Sorrells/BizBash
A crew from Stewart's Hallmark Channel show recorded her conversations with contestants as they prepared their entries.
A crew from Stewart's Hallmark Channel show recorded her conversations with contestants as they prepared their entries.
Photo: Mitra Sorrells/BizBash
A long table outside the contest ballroom displayed each of the 100 entries.
A long table outside the contest ballroom displayed each of the 100 entries.
Photo: Courtesy of Pillsbury Bake-Off
Signs outside the ballroom indicated the products contestants were allowed to use in their entries.
Signs outside the ballroom indicated the products contestants were allowed to use in their entries.
Photo: Mitra Sorrells/BizBash
Organizers lined the back wall of the ballroom with 28 refrigerators where contestants could store supplies.
Organizers lined the back wall of the ballroom with 28 refrigerators where contestants could store supplies.
Photo: Mitra Sorrells/BizBash
The 100 finalists and their guests, along with members of the media, filled the temporary studio inside the Peabody Orlando Tuesday for a live broadcast of The Martha Stewart Show.
The 100 finalists and their guests, along with members of the media, filled the temporary studio inside the Peabody Orlando Tuesday for a live broadcast of The Martha Stewart Show.
Photo: Courtesy of Pillsbury Bake-Off
During a live broadcast Tuesday morning, Stewart revealed that judges had selected Christina Verrelli's pumpkin ravioli with salted caramel whipped cream as the grand-prize winner.
During a live broadcast Tuesday morning, Stewart revealed that judges had selected Christina Verrelli's pumpkin ravioli with salted caramel whipped cream as the grand-prize winner.
Photo: Todd Rosenberg Photography
Sponsor G.E. displayed its Café series of appliances in a lounge area outside the ballroom.
Sponsor G.E. displayed its Café series of appliances in a lounge area outside the ballroom.
Photo: Mitra Sorrells/BizBash
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