An exotic fruit, a ballpark favorite, a spider web and dehydrated potato’s are ingredients tonight to make three desserts and a chance to win $10,000 and become a “Sweet Genius” for four Pastry Chefs.

The Chefs competing tonight are as follows;

• Pastry Chef Philesha Howard
• Pastry Chef Charles Draghi
• Pastry Chef Jennifer Carey
• Pastry Chef Rose Fuger

Round 1: Chocolate Dessert – Mandatory Ingredients & Inspiration - 40 minutes

• Model Airplane (inspiration)
• Canary Melon
• Hot Dog Buns

After the time expires in round one, the Chefs must present their Chocolate Dessert to Ron Ben-Israel and receive the following critiques and possible elimination;

Chef Philesha prepared a Chocolate Sponge Cake w/ Melon In Simple Syrup & Pastry Cream & Hot Dog Buns. Ron said the melon mellowed too much from being cooked but the cake was spongy and soft. The cake was moist and light, I am very pleased.

Chef Jennifer prepared Melon Infused Chocolate Ganache w/ Melon Reduced Sauce Over The Hot Dog Buns. Ron said the ganache was deep dark and floral. The hot dog buns tasted like french toast but the sauce was a little bland.

Chef Rose prepared Chocolate Souffle Cake w/ Canary Melon Whipped Cream & Hot Dog Bun Dunes. Ron said the cake was burnt but the melon came through in the whipped cream. The dune is sweet but looks like scrambled eggs. She left the plastic on her chocolate wing.

Chef Charles prepared Melon w/ Curry & Basil w/ White Chocolate Plane Wing & Dark Chocolate Ganache Sweet Rolls. Ron said the melon was raw and not re-purposed. He liked the spices and the ganache was full of flavor and tasted good.

After a short deliberation Ron told Chef Rose that in this round she was no sweet genius.

Round 2: Candy – Mandatory Ingredients & Inspiration - 50 minutes

• Spider Web (inspiration)
• British Vegetable Spread
• Star Fruit

After the time expires in round two, the Chefs must present their Candy to Ron Ben-Israel and receive the following critiques and possible elimination;

Chef Charles prepared Candied Star Fruit w/ Fruit Truffles. Ron said he failed to plate the vegetable spread and his spider web. He said the fruit truffles were delicious as well as the candied star fruit.

Chef Philesha prepared a Caramel Nest w/ Vegetable Spread Cheese Cake Bites w/ Star Fruit Sauce. Ron said the cheese cake bites were delectable. He said he could taste the powdered sugar in the sauce which made it gritty. The chocolate bark was good.

Chef Jennifer prepared Smores w/ Vegetable Spread. Ron said she failed to plate the star fruit and web and what was on the plate came from a box or a jar. 

After a brief deliberation Ron told Chef Jennifer that in this round she was no sweet genius.

Round 3: Cake – Mandatory Ingredients &Inspiration – 60 minutes

• Knight’s Armor (inspiration)
• Mashed Potato Mix
• Violet Mints

After the time expires in round three, the Chefs must present their Cake to Ron Ben-Israel and receive the following critiques and possible elimination;

Chef Philesha prepared Baked Alaska w/ Strawberry Potato Shell w/ Cheese Cake Vanilla Ice Cream & Violet Mint Sauce. Ron said the marange tasted metallic. The cake had a tender crust and the ice cream was good. Overall it was very satisfying.

Chef Charles prepared a Bubino Cake w/ Mint Pesto Sauce. Ron said the marange was delicious. He said his cake almost tasted like baked pudding and the pesto was good but confusing.

After careful deliberation he told Chef Charles that in this round he was no sweet genius. He told Chef Philesha that that she wins the $10,000 and welcomed her into his world of “Sweet Genius”.

images courtesy of foodnetwork.com