To secure his spot on the show , Alex was asked to bake . He made pate choux filled with pastry cream and several other desserts including homemade pie crust . “ This show was perfect for me because I ’ m most comfortable when I ’ m baking ,” says Alex , who had previously auditioned for “ Master Chef , Jr .” and “ Rachael Ray ’ s Kids Cook-Off ” but found himself so nervous that he couldn ’ t relax enough to land his auditions . “ I think I did so well for the KBC audition because I was able to just be myself !”
Season two of the show aired from January 4 through February 22 for a total of eight episodes . Hosted by Duff Goldman and Valerie Bertinelli , Alex had the opportunity to cook for and learn from the two chef celebrities for five of the eight episodes . “ Being on TV was awesome !” he says . “ It was a little hard getting used to cameras in your face and following you around all the time — I had my own personal camera crew ! I also had a makeup artist , a stylist and a teacher on set .”
Throughout the show , Alex and the other contestants participated in various challenges that involved creating dishes within certain parameters that are then judged on presentation , taste and creativity . Alex ’ s favorite challenge was the “ Hot Chocolate Challenge .” His favorite things to make there were the different-flavored macaroons . “ They take a lot of skill and it ’ s fun to create different , new flavors ,” he says . “ The flavors I made were orangesicle and red velvet .”
On the very first episode , Alex made a peach pie that placed in the top three desserts . “ Duff loved my lattice work and the flavors I used ,” he recalls proudly . Following the show , that peach pie as well as his peach cobbler became some of his signature dishes along with his famous butter cookies . “ Everyone LOVES my cookies ,” Alex says , “ and I learned how to make peach pie from my great-aunt , Sally Portis , who is 92 years old .” His cupcakes are also very popular and widely requested , with samosa and chocolate being his best sellers .
After being eliminated on episode five , it was hard at first for Alex to return home , as he thought his friends , family and fans would be disappointed in him because he did not win . But nothing could be further from the truth . “ Everyone has been so great ,” he says . “ I get stopped in the store and different places all the time . People tell me they were cheering for me to win , that I did a good job and that they are proud of me . Then they ask my mom if they can take a picture with me . It has been really fun meeting so many people !”
When recalling his time on the show , Alex said his biggest challenge was time management . “ It was really hard to get everything done in the time that was given ,” he explained . “ Some of my dishes were messy because I was pressed for time , but they still tasted good . If I would have had more time , I think I would have done really well .”
Without a doubt , Alex found a fan in both judges , but especially Duff Goldman . “ It was so exciting to have Duff Goldman eating my food !” he exclaims . “ When I was eliminated , Duff reminded me that he does not do well in competitions , but he has a very successful baking business and
Alex Portis poses with his apron from the show , which was signed by all the participants including judges Duff Goldman and Valerie Bertinelli .
“ I learned what I know about cooking and baking from my nana . She was a great cook and baker , and I loved being in the kitchen with her while she taught me her recipes .”
is a famous baker . He told me to keep baking and working hard because he believes that I have a great future ahead .”
Alex also found friendship among the competitors on the show . “ It was so good meeting other kids who love to bake as much as me ,” he says . “ We keep in touch and share our new baking creations .” His favorite person to work with on the show was Matthew . The two have remained close friends and Alex has already traveled to visit him in Virginia . “ He will be coming to visit me in Monroeville soon !” he says , smiling .
Since returning home from the show , Alex has been asked to participate in a lot of new and exciting projects . He ’ s judged a cupcake competition , was a keynote speaker for a middle school forum , has been on a local TV show and bakes on a regular basis for a local poetry jam . He ’ s also been busy baking for a lot of events , birthday parties , baby showers and weddings , and though it ’ s a lot of work , he ’ s having the time of his life .
Being on the show has encouraged Alex to challenge himself more . “ I ’ ve been creating new flavors and experimenting with cake designs ,” he says . “ Since the show , I ’ ve made a cake in the shape of an airplane , cupcakes that look like alligators ( for my wrestling team ), emoji cupcakes for a birthday party and a cake in the shape of the coliseum for a history project at school !” The young baker has also been experimenting more and more with fondant and received an airbrush kit for Christmas that he has been putting to good use when creating new and exciting cake designs . “ I need a little more practice with the airbrush kit ,” he laughs . “ It ’ s harder than it looks !”
Alex has already started his own business here at home . “ It ’ s called Big Al ’ s Bakery ,” he says with a smile . “ My nana used to call me Big Al .” And he is already saving money to purchase a food truck , hoping to call it “ Big Al ’ s on Wheels .” “ My mom will have to drive until I can get my license ,” he adds . He hopes the money he makes from the food truck will eventually allow him to buy his own bakery / cafe .
Alex dreams big and has plans of attending Johnson & Wales University and enrolling in its famous culinary program once he finishes high school . He also wants to study business in college to learn the skills necessary for running a company . He has aspirations of owning bakeries in Los Angeles and New York , and hopes to eventually expand all around the world . “ I have all of these ideas in my head that are really cool ,” Alex says . “ Oh , and I of course would love to have my own show on Food Network !”
To place an order from Big Al ’ s Bakery or have Alex Portis attend / bake for your event , contact Audrey Portis at bigalsbakery @ outlook . com . n
Monroeville | Fall 2016 | icmags . com 17