Finally! Some "in-speeee-ration" for a new post!

Sunday March 2nd was a very exciting day!  The previous day I'd heard that Ron Ben-Israel from Food Network’s Sweet Genius, was going to be at the Mid Atlantic Home & Garden show.  I knew about the show, but didn't really think it would be of any interest to me as:  A) I don’t own a home and B) I don’t have a garden.  Anyway, I was surprised to hear that there would be a dessert competition going on (how did I not know about this?!?).  Of the four competitors, two were arch rivals of mine, Just Cupcakes, who appeared on (and won) Cupcake Wars the season that I applied for.  And Carolina Cupcakery, whom, if you can recall, beat me out of first place in the Virginian Pilot’s (extremely biased) cupcake Taste Test back in July of 2011.  Bastards.  I wanted nothing more than to see both of them go down.

I called up Chuck and told here we were going.  She gets dragged along to all of these ridiculous ideas of mine and is always a good sport about. 

We walked around the expo checking out the wares and stocking up on free pens while continuously checking the “main stage” for the host with the most.  He was supposed to be doing a Q&A at 2pm, but they were running behind.  We walked to the booths of the dessert competitors after the competition had finished and found some crappy displays and a lot of crumbs.  We couldn't care less about it; we just didn't want my nemesis to win.  

Finally there was some commotion on the main stage.  And Chef Ron appeared to announce the winner.  Swan Terrace, from The Founder’s Inn!  Yay for them! 

After a brief Q&A with some rather lame questions from the audience (I’m still kicking myself for not asking a question), they announced that Chef Ron would be signing autographs.  I grabbed Chuck and we hauled ass over to where he’d be.  Normally I don’t have the patience for silly stuff like this, but we had secured a decent spot in line and I had a cake pop in my purse for Chef Ron and was going to see to it that it made it into those genius hands of his! 

Once we got closer to the front of the line, one of his “people” handed us a sticky note for us to write our name on and hand to him when we got up there in order to keep the line moving quickly (i.e. not having every person up there have to spell out their name for him).  I wasn't sure if it’d fly, but I wrote on mine “Roxie’s Cupcakes are the best!!!”. 

As the two ladies in front of us approached the table, Chuck and devised our picture taking strategy (they were not allowing posed pictures). 

**Side note:  as I type this, I feel absolutely ridiculous admitting that we actually devised a picture taking strategy…but sadly it is true.***

Finally, my turn arrived!  I was so nervous and star struck by this strange, flamboyant man who hosts a show that most people have never heard of.

I stuttered something about being a big fan and then handed him the cake pop that I had stashed in my purse along with one of my super cute and crafty, home-made business cards. 

Chef Ron was incredibly nice and very laid back.  Nothing like what he personifies on the show.  He asked about the cake pop and if it was my audition for the show.  I laughed and told him “I have what it takes to be the next sweet genius!”  He gave me my autograph and we were on our way! 

I might as well just change my name to Roxie.