Troy girl competes on ‘Kids Baking Championship’

TROY — An 11-year-old Troy girl is living her dream and taking the business she started to the next level as she is featured on the Food Network’s “Kids Baking Championship.”

Genevieve Kashat has been watching the show for years. It inspired her to start baking and even start her own baking business.

“I was on social media for my small business. A guy reached out and said, ‘Oh my gosh, why haven’t you applied for the show yet?’” said Genevieve. “I’ve been watching the show since I was 5 or 6 years old, so this was kind of a dream come true.”

Her business is called “Gen’s Kreations,” and through it she sells a variety of baked goods in the Detroit area.

“My small business is macarons, cakes and coco bons; 80% of all proceeds go to an orphanage in Ira. I started it when I was learning the technique of making macarons when I was 7 years old. My aunt was having a get-together and asked if I would sell them there.”

More information on her business can be found at www.instagram.com/gens_kreations.

Genevieve’s mother, Evon Kashat, said seeing her daughter spread her wings and be able to live out what she loves doing is so fulfilling.

“It’s a blessing when you’re able to see your child grow into the role she was meant to fulfill,” remarked Evon. “How many parents can say they’re witnessing their child live their dreams? She has tested every ounce of creativity, and she is confident in her skills. We’re just cheering from the sidelines. This is all her.”

“Kids Baking Championship” airs Monday nights at 8 p.m. on the Food Network. Three contestants will face off in the finale on Monday, Feb. 20. Genevieve said the experience of being on the show, which was filmed this past summer, was unbelievable.

“For every season, there would be cakes and cookies and sometimes stuff you just like to bake. They would give us a dessert with certain parameters. We can’t say a lot about it. It started Dec. 26, and you have to watch every week to see how far everyone gets,” she said. “My favorite part was making new friends. I met so many great people on the show. Duff (Goldman) was one of the judges, and I really liked spending time with him.”

She added that macarons are her favorite, despite being one of the hardest treats to make.

“Macarons are very difficult to make. We call it the diva of all cookies,” laughed Genevieve. “You have to let it rest in the right temperature, and you can’t add too much food coloring.”

Twelve contestants were originally featured on the show this season, and Genevieve said that while she couldn’t tell people how the season ends, she can say she made it past the first several rounds, which was incredibly exciting.

“It was filmed over the summer. … The structure of the show is all of the kids go down, the judges explain the challenge of the day, which was super fun, and we have a twist they would give us in the desert we were making about an hour into the show,” said Genevieve. “They then announce who were the winners and who was going home after about two to three hours for the challenge.”

Evon said that staying on the sidelines can be hard, but she and the rest of the Kashat family are so proud to see Genevieve succeed on her own.

“From a parent’s perspective, it can be tricky,” said Evon. “You want her to be able to grow and learn and grow into that role as a pastry chef she wants to be. That’s her endgame and goal. You want her to have that freedom and independence to do that. I don’t help with the desserts. I help with dishes, I handle social media and I take care of some inventory. She started when she was 9; now she’s 11. You want to balance her life. You want her to keep doing well in school, stay in gymnastics, and remain active in our local church.”

Evon said that being on the show has been a boon to Genevieve’s business.

“Being on the show already has improved her business,” Evon said. “A lot of people we both know and don’t know have asked if we ship her desserts. We only ship in the metro Detroit area, but it has definitely increased her business since being on the show. We have seen a great show of support from the whole community.”

Genevieve hopes to continue her business and make baking her career.

“A goal of mine is to go to college, get a degree in business and go to culinary school,” she said. “I want to create a big bakery and cafe. I want to make cakes and have a place with indoor and outdoor seating. I could bring my dad’s honeybees there and make homemade honey. I would love to be a judge on a show like ‘Kids Baking Championship.’”

Evon encourages other parents to let their children explore what they love and to go as far as they hope to with their passions.

“Don’t shut down these dreams and ambitions,” Evon said. “I don’t always have a clean kitchen, but that doesn’t mean I will stop her from chasing her passion. If any parent sees their kid is passionate about something, let them grow into it and be creative. Let them find their niche. Everyone has a special spin on what they are good at.”