Dean McDermott, actor, television personality and Gourmet Dad, opened his home to America during the six seasons of the hit show Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood, along with wife Tori Spelling. Born and raised in Toronto, Dean is the winner of Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off, Season 2 and recently returned to his hometown to host the highly anticipated Food Network Canada series Chopped Canada.
A self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie, the father of five is an avid adventurer and a mixed martial arts enthusiast. He also races motorcycles and is a phenomenal cook and a master DIYer. He appears regularly on a variety of daytime talk and entertainment shows, is a regular contributor to Parenting.com and is concentrating on growing his Gourmet Dad brand as he continues his culinary arts studies at the Art Institute of California's Culinary School. Dean shares his experiences and knowledge on his website, DeanMcDermott.com. From family and relationships to projects and hobbies, the site serves as a pit stop for dudes and dads of any age who want to talk shop about man-of-the-house stuff.
Dean recently finished production on Tori & Dean: Cabin Fever, a series that follows Tori and Dean and their kids while they renovate an Ontario lakeside cottage into their dream vacation home. As a modern-day renaissance father, Dean keeps family, food and fun his primary focus. Dean is currently working on his first cookbook, which will be released in 2014.
Find Dean on Twitter, @Deanracer, and Facebook, DeanMcDermott007.
In the grand tradition of dessert rivalries, hosts and judges Valerie Bertinelli and Duff Goldman divide the 10 kid bakers into two teams for a good old-fashioned chocolate vs. peanut butter throwdown. To up the stakes, the winner of the challenge will earn immunity from elimination for their entire team! After the dust settles, one baker from the losing team is eliminated.
To highlight Friendsgiving, host Jesse Palmer asks the remaining 10 bakers to create flavor friends desserts designed to make a seasonal flavor pairing shine. Then, the bakers are divided into two teams for the ultimate fall flavor showdown as they take on apple vs. pumpkin desserts in an all-out effort to settle the debate for judges Carla Hall, Duff Goldman and Nancy Fuller.
It's awards season, so host Jesse Palmer askes the bakers to whip up "And the winner is" berry-filled pie envelopes. Then, the bakers team up to present judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller with a social media phenomenon: two-tiered "bubble" cakes inspired by an awards night cocktail.
Host Jesse Palmer springs into the season with a Mother's Day celebration! For the bakers to show Mom how much she means to them, they create bouquets of tulips and rosé-infused desserts, two things any mom would love on their special day, before judges Duff Goldman, Kardea Brown and Nancy Fuller decide who moves on to the finale!
In one of the most difficult challenges of the season, hosts and judges Valerie Bertinelli and Duff Goldman embrace the "loaded" foods trend by asking the remaining kid bakers to make loaded milkshakes from scratch topped with two different baked goods. All that baking and ice cream making will secure the three best bakers a place in the finale.
The longest week of Duff Goldman's life continues in one of the most epic battles of the season! Duff and his team square off against Henderson Gonzalez, Jujhar Mann and Timmy Norman to make cakes depicting ocean predators that feature a floating element. It's a close contest, and judges Amaury Guichon, Sherry Yard and special guest Paul de Gelder are all blown away at the majesty of the two cakes, but only one can move on and be eligible for the grand prize of $50,000.
It's a Kids Baking Championship reunion as season two kid chefs Jane Haviland and Matthew Merril drop by for lunch! Valerie Bertinelli does not disappoint and makes Grilled Italian Paninis with Provolone, Genoa Salami, Black Forest Ham and Roast Turkey served with Salt and Vinegar Zucchini Chips, and Soft Pretzels with Chocolate Hazelnut Dip. As a special treat, Valerie makes Chocolate Cupcakes with Neapolitan Frosting and the kids decorate them with treats sent by Duff Goldman.
To culminate the season of love, host Jesse Palmer is throwing a Spring Baking wedding! Before the wedding can take place, the bottom two bakers each create a dozen doughnut wedding shower favors for a place in the final bake. Then, the final three create proposal desserts and dream wedding cakes for three real couples. The baker who wins the hearts of the happy pair along with judges Duff Goldman, Nancy Fuller and Kardea Brown will be crowned Spring Baking Champion and win $25,000!