Long Island Baker Featured on the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars

For Immediate Release: March 9, 2012

Long Island Baker Featured on the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars

Massapequa Park, NY – Watching Cupcake Wars on the Food Network recently, Merrick resident and co-owner of a Massapequa Park bakery, Andrew Mincher and his fiancée, Nicole Hendershot, realized that Andrew would be a great contender for the show.

            “I love to bake, and I love to create new things,” says Andrew. So together with his cake decorator Damilynn Lacaruba, Andrew and Nicole created an entertaining and creative “cupcake video” and submitted it to the show’s producers for consideration.

            Much to their delight, the phone call came: Andrew was invited to participate as a contestant on the national program, Cupcake Wars. The episode, which was filmed in California, premiered on February 26 and will air again on March 6, featured a “Horror Show” theme, and the bakers were asked to created cupcakes in homage to the gory movie genre. Using the prescribed, surprise ingredients, Andrew and Jamilynn created artfully decorated cupcakes such as Banana Rum Cupcakes with rum-soaked fresh bananas and peanut butter buttercream and a Carrot Cake Cupcake featuring fresh shredded carrots, walnuts and coconut topped with cream cheese frosting^*.

Making it to the final of four competitive rounds, Andrew showcased his original and artfully decorated culinary masterpieces in a custom-built display shaped like two coffins – in keeping with the designated horror show theme. And while the judges agreed that based on the quality, taste, originality and appearance of the cupcakes, Andrew and the other finalist were “on a level playing field,” Andrew took second place.

            “Being on the show was a great experience,” says Andrew. “It was fun, and despite the time pressure of every round, I didn’t really feel stressed,” he reflected. “This is what I do and I thought, I’m going to have fun doing it.”

About Andrew Mincher and Sugar Rush Bakery    

            Andrew, his father-in-law Steve Hendershot and brother-in-law Greg Hendershot purchased Dimonda Bakery at 1030 Park Boulevard in Massapequa Park in February 2011. Currently transitioning to its new name, Sugar Rush Bakery, the sweet shoppe now features some of the old standards that made Dimonda’s a neighborhood mainstay, as well as many popular new taste sensations created by Andrew and his team. Andrew learned the art and science of baking from his brother Ray Mincher, who has been a professional baker all his life. Andrew’s recent participation in Cupcake Wars, and achievement of Finalist status, was an exciting way for the new Sugar Rush Bakery to celebrate its one year anniversary under new ownership. 

About the Show

It’s cupcake vs. cupcake in Food Network’s tastiest competition yet! Each week on Cupcake Wars, four of the country’s top cupcake bakers face off in three elimination challenges until only one remains. The sweet prize: $10,000 and the opportunity to showcase their cupcakes at the winning gig. Whether a special Ace of Cakes anniversary celebration, a star-studded magazine party or an A-list celebrity golf tournament, these Cupcakes Wars really heat up. Candace Nelson (owner of Sprinkles Cupcakes) and Florian Bellanger (chef and co-owner of online macaroon company MadMac) serve as permanent judges with a third rotating judge each week.

Note to editors:

Photo ops available at the bakery. For additional information, contact Wendy Goldstein, Publicist, at (516) 375-2946 or email wendygoldstein@optonline.net or call Andrew Mincher at Sugar Rush Bakery directly at (516) 798-8795 (Sugar Rush Bakery does not yet have a live web site).

*Original Cupcakes created by Andrew Mincher on Cupcake Wars

Banana Rum Cupcake - Bananas soaked in rum filled in vanilla cupcake with peanut butter buttercream

Apple Crumb Cupcake - Vanilla cake with apple-vanilla buttercream, crumb topping with caramel drizzle

Pumpkin Cupcake - Pumpkin cupcake filled with chocolate chips topped with an espresso buttercream

Carrot Cake Cupcake - Carrot cupcake with carrots, walnuts and coconut topped with cream cheese

# # # # #