by Gina Scarpa

 

Last month, Top Chef: Just Desserts named Yigit Pura its first winner. He competed against Morgan Wilson and Danielle Keene in the final challenge. Danielle started off this season shaky, landing in the bottom multiple times but earned respect for her performances in the Dessert Wars and anniversary cake challenges. Two of her three desserts that she made for the final challenge went over well but it wasn't enough to give her the win. Today, we caught up with the finalist in an exclusive interview about her experiences on the show and how she feels about Yigit's win.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: When did your interest in food first begin?
A. Danielle: When I was young, I would always go through my mom's cookbooks. I came from a family that always cooked and baked. I liked that it was very creative and expressive. I would come home after school and try new recipes.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What made you want to try out for Top Chef: Just Desserts?
A. Danielle: I am a big fan of Top Chef. I have seen every episode and love the format of the show. I was really hoping it would give my business that is fairly new and small a boost with the exposure.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You flew under the radar a lot this season. Did you feel like an underdog going into the finale with Morgan and Yigit?
A. Danielle: I know it could have been perceived that I was the underdog but I always really liked the things I made and felt it represented my style of pastry. I think a lot was focused on the people that used fancy ingredients and 10 components to a dessert. I was trained with a more simple and rustic approach. We all represented different styles of pastry. One isn't necessarily better than the other.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What was your favorite challenge this season?
A. Danielle: I really liked the bake sale challenge. The competition had been so stressful up to that point and it was really great to meet the students and talk to them about their future. It was a very positive and uplifting experience.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What was it like working with a pastry icon like Elizabeth Faulkner during the finale?
A. Danielle: It actually made me more nervous going into the finale. But once I got to the kitchen I felt more relaxed. She gave me some vitamins and we hugged and I felt much better! It is definitely a trip to have someone that you admire and have their cookbook on yourself "working" for you!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you feel that you and Tania worked well together in final challenge?
A. Danielle: Tania was so great. She is a awesome person and a talented pastry chef. She was there to help me and have a good time and the experience was great.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Your ice cream sampler and honey candy were big hits. Did you feel confident going into the final judging?
A. Danielle: I did. Every time Johnny asked me what I was making in the kitchen he would look at me like I just stepped of a space ship from Mars. Our styles are very different. I probably didn't explain it very well but once the judges saw it and tasted it they really enjoyed it. It's hard not to get excited about homemade root beer!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How do you feel about Yigit's win?
A. Danielle: I think it was well deserved. It is really hard to compare myself to him because we do such different things. It wasn't my job to decide who had the best desserts. I was there to make the things that I truly love and am passionate about. I felt really great about what I made through the competition and the finale.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: If you could do it all over again, would you change anything about your Top Chef experience?
A. Danielle: I really try to live my life with no regrets. I loved the challenges and the chefs I was able to meet. It definitely was a stressful time but worth it. Maybe I wish I could have gotten a little more sleep!

 

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

Follow Gina @ginascarpa and Michael @mjlamp

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