A trip to California to compete on Food Network’s “Cake Wars” turned out to be icing on the cake for hard-working Chardon pastry shop owners Ellen Harvischak and Devin Bennett.
A trip to California to compete on Food Network’s “Cake Wars” turned out to be icing on the cake for hard-working Chardon pastry shop owners Ellen Harvischak and Devin Bennett.
“We learned that we have it in us to get the job done,” said Bennett, owner of Sweet Grace Anna’s Fancy Cakes and Bakes, of their exciting “Cake Wars” win. “Every Saturday at our bakery is like a ‘Cake Wars’ episode. We work against the clock to accomplish cakes for our customers, no matter what. We really learned that hard work doesn’t guarantee success, but it sure helps.”
The couple, who met online 11 years ago, applied last year to be on the popular show.
Their bakery, at 209 Center Street, is named after their 10-year-old daughter, Grace Anna.
“They called us finally in April to submit a video of us at our shop, which we did,” Bennett said. “We did not hear back from them until June, when they called to tell us we were on the show and scheduled to film Aug. 4.”
He added, “We went to Glendale, California and we were very nervous and stressed.”
The couple soon learned their challenge for the show was to create a themed cake based on Transformers toys.
After taping their episode, they were sworn to secrecy of the show’s outcome until the final episode, which aired on Halloween.
MaryAnn Marra, who does a bit of everything at the couple’s bustling shop, said she kept trying to get a hint from them, but they wouldn’t budge on whether they won or not.
“I knew they were going to win,” said Marra said Nov. 17, as she rearranged a colorful selection of French Macarons while customers shuffled inside the bakery. “They are such great people to work for.”
Harvischak explained the winning chocolate toffee cake.
“Devin wanted to do a blown-up smoldering city with large action figures looming in the flames and smoke,” said Harvischak, who came up with the necessary transforming element with a lenticular optical design, which transformed images depending on the view.
“Devin figured out how to execute it … and it was very successful,” she said.
Bennett graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from Denison University, and spent summers between college creating caricatures for visitors at then Sea World in Aurora.
“He is a real good artist,” Harvischak said.
Harvischak become inspired early on to bake as a young girl with her first Holly Hobby oven.
“I always loved to bake,” Harvischak said, adding her mom and grandma were her role models in the kitchen.
The couple previously owned pastry shops in Youngstown, then in Palatka, Fla., eventually deciding to move closer to family and settle in Geauga County.
“We did not expect to win after meeting the other competitors, so were shocked to have won,” Bennett said. ”Our first round cake was a disaster design wise, but they loved the flavor of the cake, which got us to round two. We decided to forge ahead with the second round and just wanted to finish it. We won $10,000, which was unromantically spent on bills.”
The Chardon couple made quick friends with all the competitors.
“We love all of the competitors … everyone was friendly, had good sportsmanship, professional and quite talented,” Bennett added. “We are in touch with everyone via social media, and Ellen and Dionne formed a friendship and speak daily.”
Marra smiled as she greeted another customer.
“People are coming in from everywhere now,” Marra said.
It’s the second time in one week for Chardon resident Becky Repasky.
“I am very excited for them,” Repasky said, following her purchase of her favorite chocolate cupcakes. “I followed along on Twitter.”
Harvischak thanked Repasky.
“Oh, there are only three chocolates left,” Harvischak said. “I have to go back and make more.”
Donna Barson, who works nearby, stops in weekly to get a sweet snack, buy cookies for lunches or special order a cake, she said.
“First and foremost, they are wonderful, so kind the minute you walk into the bakery,” Barson said of Harvischak and Bennett. “It is homey and comfortable. They are always going that extra mile to make sure I am happy with an order. With Ellen baking perfect confections and Devin decorating them, they are a perfect team.”
Barson added, “They have worked very hard perfecting their products and I could not be happier for them on their win on ‘Cake Wars.’ It could not have gone to anyone more deserving than the two of them.”
The couple reflected on their once and now fulfilled dream of someday winning a Food Network show.
“Yes, of course,” Bennett said. “It was on our bucket list.”
