New Jersey has something new to brag about. Marissa Lopez, of Pompton Lakes, NJ, was recently crowned “The Next Great Baker” on the second season of Cake Boss Buddy Valastro’s TLC reality show. Lopez, 24, beat out finalists Ryan Cimorelli of North Providence, R.I. and New York’s Nadine Reibeling for $100,000 and an apprenticeship with Valastro at his Carlo’s Bakery in New Jersey. Lopez, known as the gal with the attitude, as well as the other finalists including third finalist Carmelo Quendo, will all be in Hartford Sunday as special guests at the Connecticut Cake Competition at the Ct Convention Center .Getting ready for her trip to Connecticut and her apprenticeship, Lopez dropped everything, including her rolling pin, this week to Spill The Beans with Java.
Q: Do you find yourself pinching yourself to make sure you have not been dreaming this exciting dream?
A: It still hasn’t hit me, it’s so surreal. It’s a weird thing. Being on the show is so much fun. A lot of people don’t get to experience anything like that.
Q: I am sure you know fans either loved you or hated you because of what appeared to be a pretty abrasive attitude. So what do you have to say for yourself?
A: When I watched the episodes I thought ‘boy what a bitch I was.” But honestly, sometimes you have to be to get something done. I actually did not make it onto season 1 because they had already chosen someone a lot like me and they didn’t want two people with the same personality. So I got a call back for season 2. I am what I am although I think because of the editing, it didn’t really show I had another side too. I wish I could make people realize I am not that kind of bitch.
Q: What was your first thought when Buddy announced that you were the winner?
A: I don’t remember. I wish I could go back to that moment. We were so exhausted. We had worked 36 hours without sleeping. I just cried. There were so many emotions.
Q: One of the prizes is $100,000. Plans for that?
A: I haven’t got the money yet. I had started my own business after I lost my job in 2010 and there were costs attached to that. I got myself into debt so my plan is to pay off that debt and bank the rest. Eventually I’d like to have either a specialty cake store or a small bakery.
Q: And the apprenticeship with Buddy?
A: I haven’t started that either. I am working full-time as a cake decorator at Brownstone in Patterson and want to give them a full two weeks notice. So my plan is to start at Carlo’s Bakery the first week in March. I’m excited and nervous about working there.
Q: What is something that might surprise people who watch the show?
A: There is so much stress. You can’t imagine. And because you are in a competition, it is worse. At least when it is your own stress in life, you can see a light at the end of the tunnel. On the show, you are competing, you are away from your family, you are in the middle of what can be a life-changing situation and you are always tired because you are taping two shows a day. I found myself forgetting the cameras were even rolling because all you want to do is make it through one more elimination.
Q: If you could only have one dessert for the rest of your life what would it be?
A: Actually, I am not a big dessert eater. But I guess anything chocolate. When we were young, my favorite dessert to make at Christmas was black bottom cupcakes, devils food cupcakes with a cream cheese filling. It still stinks that we only have them at Christmas.
Q: Where did you learn to bake?
A: My mom makes big desserts. Christmas is always my favorite time at my house. I also had a home ec teacher who saw how much I loved to bake and encouraged me. She told me not to be afraid to make a career out of it. I was not a good student. I was wild and was late every day for school. I dropped out of community college. I have a brother and sister who were straight A students and finished college. It just wasn’t me.
Q: Sounds like you could be a role model for what some consider to be “throw away” kids.
A: I would never encourage anyone not to go to college. But I know my situation was a big part of me. I live in a small town where a lot of kids don’t go to college. Maybe it was wrong of me but it made me what I am today. I am a street smart woman. I don’t want people to think I am sending some anti-college message but if you have other skills and it does not mean college, find other schooling in your area of expertise and go forward.
Q: What’s the first thing you baked that people noticed?
A: Probably the Christmas cookies at my house. Everyone else was sick of it after a few batches. I would spend days baking and then decorating them. I love it.
Q: If you were going to bake a thank-you cake for Buddy, what would it look like?
A: A huge heart. I am a very emotional and passionate person and so is he. I can’t thank him enough for this opportunity.
Q: What with all this baking and decorating, how do you keep your weight down?
A: The chef’s jacket hides a lot.
Q: You and fellow competitor Ryan Cimorelli hardly admired each other during the competition. Are you ready to see him in Connecticut on Sunday?
A: Ryan and I are okay now. Even though we had differences, I learned from him just like I did from everyone on the show. And he and I had a Super Bowl bet. I liked the Giants, He liked the Patriots. He lost so he will be wearing a Giants shirt when he comes to Hartford.
Q:What is something no one knows about you?
A: That I really am a really nice girl!
The Ct Cake Competition opens Saturday and continues through Sunday at the Hartford Marriott Downtown. Go to www.ctcakecompetition.com for information.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
Great interview! I loved Marissa. Why do we always call women who know what they want bitches? When men act like that we call the CEOs.