Katie Shegda, a pastry chef at Coral in downtown Greenville, will appear in Food Network’s “Halloween Baking Championship” beginning Sept. 14.
While Shegda will be making her reality television debut, her journey initially began around three years ago with a call asking if she would like to appear on a Food Network show. At the time, she was eight months pregnant and asked them to give her a year, but when she received a second call, she was newly postpartum and had to pass on the opportunity.
“Halloween Baking Championship” contestants. Photo provided by Food NetworkSet in the Museum of Unnatural History, this year’s “Halloween Baking Championship” requires 10 bakers, all who are vying for the title of champion and a $25,000 prize, to compete in a series of challenges inspired by the creepy exhibits, such as possessed pests, demon masks and a vault of bones. Each competitor’s dessert is judged by Stephanie Boswell, Aarti Sequeira and Zac Young to see if they make it to the next phase of the competition. At the end, the last baker standing wins.
“I always told myself, ‘if they ever reach back out again, you gotta take this opportunity,’” Shegda said. “They did and we just got the ball rolling from there.”
To be chosen as a competitor, Shegda talked with different people in various departments and was asked to film herself baking something, time how long she took to complete the task and explain what she made.
Once she learned she was on the show, she didn’t watch many episodes or practice her baking skills.
“I’m kind of a fly by the seat of the pants type of girl,” Shegda said. “I have this mindset that if I watch the show or I prep too much, you pigeonhole yourself.”
When filming started for “Halloween Baking Championship,” Shegda said her biggest challenge was getting out of her head.
“The schedule was more intense than I expected,” said Shegda. “There were days I was just like, ‘apparently sleep and basic human needs are optional today.’ That proved to be more challenging for me.”
Beginning Sept. 14, “Halloween Baking Championship” will air on the Food Network Mondays at 9 p.m. and be available for streaming on HBO Max on Tuesdays.
