Wall of Bakers: 3 Judges You Knead to Meet
Wall of Bakers: 3 Judges You Knead to Meet If you loved Wall of Chef, you will most definitely be interested in watching Wall of Bakers on Food Network Canada! This exciting new show proposes a sweet competition as they like to call it, where different Canadian Home bakers will have the opportunity to show off their skills. “The winner takes it all” The best baker wins a $10,000 cash prize. We had the opportunity to interview some of the judges who also shared their love of baking with us. Chef Christine Cushing Why do you love baking? I love baking because it is the perfect blend of science and creativity. It can test your stamina, challenge you, and bring you to your knees completely out of nowhere. Then one day, it can give you the greatest feeling of accomplishment that you actually created something magical with a few simple ingredients. It's emotional and involves all the senses. When did you start baking? I fell in love with baking when I first got my hands on an Easy-Bake Oven, around the age of 8. That 6-Watt light bulb was pure magic. I would make the little vanilla cakes with the strawberry flecked icing for my 4-year-old brother. I can still remember us sliding them in one side and then being so excited to pull them out once they were just baked at the other end. Then I would proceed with the icing smear. Later in my teens, I started my baking journey in earnest, making apple pies, chocolate cakes and supplying a local restaurant with black forest cakes, around the age of 16. This unforgettable adventure involved many all-nighters – on school nights – with the kitchen left in a total disaster to my mom who had to deal with the cleaning, while I hurried off to the school the next morning. Why is it important to get kids in the kitchen? Bringing kids into the kitchen early is absolutely imperative. Firstly, it gives them a sense of purpose, belonging and contributing to the family unit. They start learning to work with all their senses and experiment. They will be more likely to try new foods if they have helped to prepare them. It's also a great way to develop your confidence with small victories. I also felt that cooking got me through some difficult times; when my dad had a serious heart attack, cooking was what I would now identify as a
Q&A with King Richard Star, Daniele Lawson
Q&A with King Richard star, Daniele Lawson At just 18 years old, Daniele Lawson not only landed her first movie but an Oscar-nominated movie at that. The actress stars alongside Will Smith in King Richard, a film that follows the life of Richard Williams, the father and coach of famed tennis players Venus and Serena Williams. Lawson plays Isha Price, sister to the Williams sisters, and said the experience was life-changing. We sat down with Lawson for a Q&A about making it to the big screen and the even greater plans she has in store. By Rachel Naud King Richard is your first movie! What was that moment like for you when you first saw the movie? When I first saw the film, my heart dropped. I’ve done many projects, but none of them have been as prestigious as this one. It was amazing to see how well everything came together and how proud I was to be a part of this movie. I was so happy and overjoyed to see myself up on the big screen, I could not help but be filled with excitement. King Richard will always have a special place in my heart as it’s the first of many incredible opportunities. What was it like working with Will Smith? Did he give you any advice on-set? Working with Mr. Will was such a life-changing experience. Every day on set, he was so incredibly kind and created such a positive work environment for everyone. He made sure it was a fun place to be at without even trying. Mr. Will is an amazing mentor, he taught us to be very selective with the projects we choose in the future. He advised us to be part of projects that are personal to us and that will impact the world. I believe King Richard is one of those incredibly inspiring films that is so relatable on so many levels. I am so grateful to have this as my first movie. Tell us about your character, Isha Price. How did you get ready to play her? My character, ‘Isha Price’, is the real-life sister to Venus and Serena Willaims. Isha is fun, sassy, and an intelligent woman. When preparing for this role, Ms.Isha and I had the pleasure of meeting on multiple occasions to really get to know each other. From those sit-downs, I learned how incredible she truly is. She was very helpful in helping me understand
Workin’ Mom Dani Kind
On-screen, Dani Kind plays Anne Carlson, an unapologetic mom, friend and psychiatrist whose wit is as sharp as her tongue. In real life, the Workin’ Mom of two boys says there’s a bit of every woman in the cast of characters within her — and most of the women she knows — which is why the show is such a hit with not only Canadians but with audiences worldwide. We sat down with Kind to talk about being Anne, Season 6 and the authenticity of Workin’ Moms. By Rachel Naud We have to say, Workin’ Moms is truly a laugh-out-loud show. It makes me laugh out loud too. It’s funny because when I read it on the page, I’m like ‘is that funny? Is what we’re doing funny?' We’re in the bubble shooting it and every year, I’m just like ‘I don’t know.’ And then when I see it cut together, I think ‘this is so good.’ How has your character, Anne, evolved throughout the series? I think she comes off as angry or aggressive or whatever, and I feel like with anybody in life, whatever works for you, works for you until it doesn’t. I think this season she takes a look at that for her. I think she has gotten away with a lot of things in her life because she’s Anne and that’s how she is. Like, the things she has said in Mommy and Me and the way she has addressed other women. I think emotionally she’s going to have to take a look at herself this year in a way that she hasn’t in any of the previous years. What is Anne in for this season? She’s back in Toronto and has to start from ground zero again. She doesn’t have any clients anymore. She has done this before, but this is post-Cochrane. She is discombobulated. She was all messed up. So, this year of her starting over again is almost starting from the most vulnerable place. She’s by herself because her husband is in Cochrane, and she still has a teenage daughter and a toddler and she’s in it. How would you describe Anne’s Workin’ Mom parenting style with Dani’s Workin’ Mom parenting style? I mean, I would never jump out of a bush and tell my kid to punch me in the dick. Like I would never do that. But I’m so close to that. I definitely talk to my kids like they’re
Shining a Spotlight on Annie Live! Star Celina Smith
Shining a Spotlight on Annie Live! Star Celina Smith Celina Smith may only be 12 years old, but she’s had an extensive singing and acting career as Young Nala in the National Tour of Disney’s The Lion King, appears on the mega-hit series, Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan and is set to reprise the role of Annie on Annie Live! We sat down with the Atlanta-born star to chat about growing up on stage. By Rachel Naud You're only 12 years old and have already had such an impressive career, how old were you when you started performing? My parents would say I was born performing but I was probably around 7 years old. I was doing gymnastics, but my parents decided my cartwheels weren’t getting any better and they enrolled my in a performing arts camp, AGI, … and the rest is history! When did you know you wanted to be a performer? I knew I liked performing but I knew I wanted to do it for a living after I booked The Lion King. I think that’s when I realized I could do it professionally. How do you deal with the tough aspects of the business, like rejection? Sometimes it’s hard to deal with rejection, especially when it comes to auditioning because if it’s something I really wanted, it’s a bummer. But I try not to take it personal. What’s meant for me, is meant for me, so maybe that part just wasn’t meant for me. Tell us about what it's like performing on the esteemed Broadway stage? It’s fun and cool to see the lights and the audience’s reaction to the performances. You're starring in Annie Live! What do you love about being Annie? What I love most about being Annie is that she’s so full of hope. I love spreading that kind of message especially after the past year or so. You are working with some of the greats in the biz like Harry Connick Jr. and Nicole Scherzinger. What are they like to work with? Did they give you any advice? I am so excited about the cast of this show. I haven’t met everyone yet but the amount of talent and experience I am going to get to work with is amazing! I cannot wait. How have your parents helped you in your career? My mom and my dad have helped my career by giving up so much so that I can do what I love. My mom toured with me for over
Parker Bates from This is Us: His Pandemic and Pearson Life
Parker Bates from This is Us on His Pandemic and Pearson Life Parker Bates plays young Kevin Pearson in the hit show This Is Us. We caught up with the teen actor to chat about the show, his advice to other teens about coping with pandemic life, and the very Pearson-esque advice he got from his on-screen dad, Milo Ventimiglia. By Julyanna Trickey You have played the character of young Kevin on NBC’s This Is Us for about six years now. What has been your favourite part of working on this show? It’s always fun when I get to work with Milo, just me and him. It’s always super fun because I get to learn a lot from him. Before Covid, I learned a lot about the directing side of things and more of the camera operating stuff so that has been pretty cool. But mostly my favourite has been just being on set and hanging out with my friends. Since I’ve known them for six years now, they’re like my family. Whenever I’m on set I just have so much fun with them. Do you keep in contact with your castmates a lot outside of work? Yes. Me and my siblings on the show have a little group chat called “The Mini Big Three” that we keep in touch with. I see Milo sometimes too just to hang out and chat. What have you noticed is different about your job since the pandemic started? Every other day you have to get tested or sometimes it’s every day. So, it’s been kind of weird going to the city just to get tested. On set, there are these boxes that we get to take our masks off in to eat something. They look a bit like a hockey penalty box so that’s kind of fun. But we have still been working a lot so at least that has been normal. How are you coping with the Covid-19 pandemic? It’s been a rough year! I’ve just been trying to stay busy and get outside as much as I can. I’ll go exercise and I’ll go play golf a lot. It’s been one of my main hobbies that I can do with my dad. I usually play soccer, but I haven't been able to do that because of the pandemic. We’ve also been cooking and baking a lot! I have made A LOT of cookies. So yeah, just trying to stay busy! What is
Special Report with Bret Baier
Special Report with Bret Baier
Tia Carrere’s Most Excellent Career
From 90s sex symbol to Netflix villain, Tia Carrere dishes about her past, her new role and what she wants her teen daughter to know about body image.
The Morning Show’s Carolyn Mackenzie: Her Life Behind the Ring Light
Life Behind the Ring Light The Morning Show’s Carolyn Mackenzie on hosting a national show while raising tweens…. all from home By Rachel Naud Pre-pandemic, minutes before the cameras would start rolling on Global’s The Morning Show, Carolyn Mackenzie would surround herself with her team and her co-host, Jeff McArthur, in an energetic pre-show pick-me-up ritual. “Have a great show!” the team would sing together, just moments before the spotlight would shine on Mackenzie and McArthur as they would bring entertainment and news to Canadians from coast-to-coast. Now, most days Mackenzie, 45, broadcasts from her home, alone. There’s no more team to rally behind her, there’s no more makeup artist or hairstylist or pre-show cheer huddle to get those last-minute butterflies stirring. There’s just her, her ring light and a prayer that her two tweens will stay occupied and quiet so she can make it through the one-hour broadcast interruption-free. “I still do my own chant,” says Mackenzie over a phone interview from her home in Toronto. “I pump myself up. I say, ‘Ok, Carolyn. Have a good show!’” Life in the Spotlight More than 20 years ago when Mackenzie started her career as a journalist and a broadcaster, she could never imagine she would end up hosting a national show from her living room. Since graduating with honours from Carleton University and becoming a journalist, she has been awarded accolades for her work as a storyteller and a reporter. In fact, in 2005 she won an Edward R. Murrow Award for excellence in journalism for her coverage on transit inaccessibility. Today, as co-host of The Morning Show, Mackenzie produces segments, interviews celebrities, authors and lifestyle experts. She shares good news with Canadians nation-wide and has the tough job of bringing bad news to audiences. Before the pandemic, her and McArthur’s chemistry would orchestrate to create fun and informative segments, whether they were sharing fun stories about their personal life, doing a cooking demo with Chef Massimo, or sitting down for a powerful two-on-one interview with a guest tackling tough topics about racism or abuse. They competed with one another in fun quizzes; their work wife/husband rivalry leading to more laughs than questions. On Fridays, she and McArthur celebrated the end-of-week with a well-timed high five. “There actually is nothing I do not like about being a part of this show,” says Mackenzie. “It is fun. It’s creative. I love the process from beginning to end. In all my years
Foster Boy’s Julie Benz on how the film exposes corruption, abuse in the system
Foster Fail Julie Benz from Foster Boy talks about how the film exposes abuse, corruption in the foster-care system in the U.S. Tell us a little about the movie Foster Boy. Foster Boy is a legal drama about corruption in the for-profit foster care system. It is based on true events. Foster Boy was written by an attorney and is based on his experience as a top litigator in Chicago. How do you think his first-hand knowledge and experience really lends to the credibility of this film? Jay Paul Deratany was able to bring his real-life experience as a top litigator to the page. It adds an incredible richness to the film. As a litigator, he prosecuted numerous child welfare cases against for-profit foster-care companies and won. His screenplay pulls together a number of the cases he has prosecuted in order to tell an extremely compelling story and illuminate the bigger issue of corruption in the for-profit foster-care system. Foster Boy has been described as “Art Activism.” What does that mean to you? Wow. That’s a powerful and accurate description of Foster Boy. To me, ‘Art Activism’ means the ability to inspire change through art. And that’s exactly what this movie does. It holds up a mirror to a very corrupt system in our country and forces you to look at it. It leaves you wanting to make a difference for these innocent children and to fight for reform. Why do you think it’s so important to highlight the abuses within the foster-care system in the U.S.? Foster children are the forgotten children in our country. There are 430,000 children in the foster-care system at any one time. The statistics show that the majority of foster children are abused, neglected and denied basic services. And over half end up homeless, unemployable or incarcerated after aging out of the foster-care system. What’s your take on for-profit foster care? It doesn’t work. Profits are frequently prioritized over a child’s well-being. These companies are hard to regulate and are not always transparent with their data. It’s heartbreaking because it’s the children that suffer at the hands of these greedy companies. There’s an incentive to make the placements for these kids to intentionally fail so the company can make more money. It’s criminal. You play Pamela Dupree in the movie. Can you tell us about your character? Pamela Dupree is a representation of what it’s like to be a social worker in a for-profit foster-care system. Through
Top Chef Canada’s Contestants on Cooking Up Their Careers
Top Chef Canada's Contestants on Cooking Up Their Careers If life in quarantine has you flipping channels in a neverending search to find something suitable to watch with your teen, you can now put the remote safely down for at least an hour a week. Food Network Canada's Top Chef Canada Season 8 has just started wherein 12 chefs from every corner of the country compete in the most prestigious cooking competition in the country, battling it out for the biggest prize in Top Chef Canada history and the coveted title of Canada’s Top Chef. Yes, they're in for a wild ride but we wanted to talk to the competitors about their lives BEFORE Top Chef. They were open and honest about their journeys that led them to the kitchen (they weren't all as smooth as butter), the importance of family support (one contestant's father STILL won't tell people his son is a chef) and their advice for teens looking to start a life in the kitchen. Adrian Forte When did you know you wanted to be a chef? I was always cooking as a teenager, but I decided to pursue cooking professionally the summer before Grade 12. I had realized I wasn’t going to be a professional athlete and I was already extremely passionate about all things food. I enjoyed being in the kitchen, so I thought to myself, “why wouldn’t I want to do this all the time?” What did your family say when you chose a career in the culinary arts, which can mean a lot of long nights and tough work? I come from a whole bloodline of chefs. My mother, grandmother, aunts and uncles all spent some time in the kitchen. My grandmother had seven children and it was a rite of passage in our household for every one of her kids to learn the craft. The tradition has been passed down for generations, so when I decided to pursue cooking professionally, my entire family was ecstatic about my career choice and they continue to support me. What do you wish you knew back then that you know now? Nothing. I believe life is a lesson and experience is the teacher (it’s sort of my mantra). I’ve always learned from my failures and mistakes, and I apply what I’ve learned to the next situation, endeavor or business venture. I’m a firm believer in trial by fire or sink or swim. Trials and tribulations develop