Vernon resident Melina Schein (on left) competes in Wall of Bakers to air March 28 on Food Network Canada. (Submitted photo/FNC)

By Pete McIntyre

'Wall of Bakers'

Local resident in ‘bake-off’ on new Food Network show

Mar 25, 2022 | 5:00 AM

Melina Schein describes her appearance on a TV cooking show as “a blur of adrenaline and awesomeness,” and one of the best experiences of her life.

The Vernon resident, who is an artistic director and performer, admits to stepping way out of her comfort zone to appear on Wall of Bakers, a spin-off of the popular Wall of Chefs on Food Network Canada.

Melina Schein of Vernon (at left) in Wall of Bakers. (Submitted photo/Facebook/Melina Schein)

“I am not a professional baker, I never have been. I just like to bake. What was interesting is that the actual show itself felt very, very comfortable because I’ve been a performer since I was nine,” Schein told Vernon Matters.

Schein was in Toronto last year to tape her episode, a busy 15-hour day, which will air Monday, March 28 at 10 p.m. PT on the Food Network Canada, and streamed through StackTV with Amazon Prime Video channels.

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“I have a huge contingent of local people, lots of friends and audience members who are loyal to me throughout the years; they are setting their recording devices, so it feels wonderful to have all the support,” Schein remarked.

Melina Schien of Vernon talks about her appearance on Wall of Bakers with Pete McIntyre from Vernon Matters.

Schein said she has always been a “foodie,” and during the pandemic with spare time on her hands, she cooked her way through a 400-plus recipe cookbook, which took her 16 months.

“So at the time when a friend let me know about this audition with Food Network, I was completely immersed in cooking and baking and learning about food and cuisine,” Schein recalled.

On the show, Schein was in a bake-off against three other amateur bakers, with all being watched and critiqued by “a wall” of 12 of Canada’s most accomplished pastry chefs.

“I competed my tush off,” Schein said on her Facebook page.

Schein, a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, grew up in New York City and received her undergraduate training at The Juilliard School, called it “an experience of a lifetime.”

“It was just a riveting day. It was pure joy, and adrenaline, and fun,” said Schein, who is prevented from releasing any key details about the show until it airs.

The grand prize winner for each episode takes home $10,000 and the title of Wall of Bakers champion.

You can find out more about Melina on her website: www.melinaschein.com, her Facebook page, or on Instagram @bigappleproductionsvernon @thesaucysoprano.

Melina Schein on Wall of Bakers. (Submitted photo/Facebook/Melina Schein)

In each stand-alone episode of Wall of Bakers, host Noah Cappe leads four amateur bakers in three rounds of sweet competition. In the first “crowd-pleaser” round, they prepare their own personal signature desserts.