Do TV shows influence what bakers make?
Photo courtesy Pearl's Bake Shoppe
cake pops
Cake Pops at Pearl's Bake Shoppe in Richmond.
There’s something extremely gratifying about watching someone bake, make, or taste a great dish, and streaming services like Netflix and Hulu offer a steady diet of baking shows for those who are always hungry for new content. The Great British Baking Show is one of the top contenders—American viewers love to follow the trials and tribulations of passionate amateur bakers with the goal to be named the U.K.’s best.
Photo courtesy Pearl's Bake Shoppe
cheese straws
Cheese straws at Pearl's Bake Shoppe in Richmond.
But do these shows influence what bakeries make and what their customers look for to satisfy their cravings?
“We are of the mindset that if somebody wants something, we can typically do it, even if it was not in our repertoire before,” says Laurie Blakey of Pearl’s Bake Shoppe in Richmond.
Pearl’s popular items range from cake pops to cheese straws—not to mention the chocolate chip cookies Blakey says she can’t keep on the shelf—but most of the inspiration comes from her culinary experiences. “Flavors and tastes come from experiences I’ve had in a cocktail or a meal somewhere,” she says. The Figgy Goat cupcake came from a salad, the Corporate Climber cupcake from a cocktail.
Plus, says Blakey, “I turn over creativity to our staff.” Results include adorable flamango macarons—flamingo-shaped and mango-filled.
