Baking Scraps

This week on Baking Scraps, Lisa and Cristina are welcoming two incredible bakers from The Great Canadian Baking Show Season 7—Niv Menon-Saberi and Rainier Maksoud!From the first signature bake to the final showstopper, GCBS isn’t just about cake … it’s about connection. This episode is all about the friendships that rise from the tent, turning competitors into lifelong friends. Join Lisa & Cristina as we chat about Niv’s and Rainier’s baking journeys, hilarious behind-the-scenes moments, and how the GCBS experience created bonds that go beyond the bakes. 

Double the Fun, Double the Episodes!We’ve got something extra special coming this Tuesday! Lisa and Cristina teamed up with Erin and Heather from Three Kitchens Podcast for a crossover event—you’ll hear us on their show, and them on ours!Three Kitchens is all about cooking (with a little baking), and these two bring fun, creativity, and great conversation to the kitchen. We had a blast chatting with them about their journey into the podcasting world and their adventures in the kitchen! Catch both episodes wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t miss this delicious double feature! And be sure to follow Erin & Heather on @three_kitchens_podcast for lots of great conversation and meal ideas! 

Lisa and Cristina’s next guest is none other than Arvin Garcia —winner of The Great Australian Bake Off Season 8!Known for his incredible creativity, precision, and quiet confidence, Arvin wowed the judges (and us!) with his stunning bakes. And seriously… who could ever forget that Tiramisu masterpiece?! We dive into his baking journey, his baking in the shed experience, and the artistry behind his showstopping creations. You won’t want to miss this one!

This week on Baking Scraps podcast, Lisa & Cristina welcome Dimi Jayawardene, the bright and most lovely and talented finalist from Season 8 of The Great Australian Bake Off.Dimi wowed all of us with her beautiful creative bakes, bold flavours, and infectious and inspirational energy. We’ll be chatting about her journey to the shed, her favourite bakes, and all the behind-the-scenes fun (including her secret kitchen that’s ONLY for photo shoots - brilliant!).🩷Don’t miss this one—stay tuned for laughs, lots of inspiration, and of course, plenty of baking talk! NOTE: This episode includes SPOILERS for the Great Australian Bake Off, Season 8. 

This Week on Baking Scraps: A joyful chat with Elliot Styche!First, Lisa & Cristina open the episode with a little rundown of what we brought and who we saw when we attended the Vancouver open call for Season 9 casting of the Great Canadian Baking Show this past week - it was a fabulous day with some incredible alumni, efficient and friendly crew, and some new and familiar local BC bakers. Check out the Instagram handles of some who impressed us!Then, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas - at least, it was when we recorded this week’s episode! Lisa and Cristina kick off a special three-part series featuring the finalists from The Great Australian Bake Off Season 8, starting with the one and only Elliot Styche.Elliot shares how his upbringing on a Yorkshire farm shaped his love of food and gave him the skills to pull off an impressive dinner party with speed and ease. We chat about what brought him to Australia; his journey to Bake Off; what’s next for him; and his special bond with fellow finalists Dimi and Arvin (who we’ll hear from in the next two episodes!).Of course, it wouldn’t be The Baking Scraps without a round of This or That, a deep dive into Elliot’s thoughts on pineapple on pizza, and his very own “Baking Scrap.” Plus, we uncover some very interesting facts about Australian wildlife and chocolate—though, fair warning, we don’t have a fact-checker, so take them with a pinch of salt (or sugar!).Tune in for laughs, baking tales, and plenty of joyful chaos!

Lisa and Cristina are thrilled to welcome the amazing Alina Fintineanu to the Baking Scraps podcast!Alina is a Season 5 contestant from The Great Canadian Baking Show and a graduate of the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu pastry school in Paris. Not only is she incredibly talented, but she’s also one of the most gracious and supportive bakers we’ve had the pleasure of meeting. Beautiful inside and out, Alina’s passion for baking and artistry truly shines through in everything she does.Stay tuned for an inspiring conversation with this extraordinary baker!