Local tween competes in Disney Channel’s ‘Magic Bake-Off’
3 years
Twelve-year-old Shelby Lebovitz, daughter of Adat Shalom Synagogue West L.A. Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz and Blair Lebovitz, competed in Disney Channel‘s first baking competition series, “Disney’s Magic Bake-Off” on Oct. 15. Together with her best friend Lylah Pouratian, they created a nine-layer, three-tiered, pineapple-flavored cake based on the Disney Channel animated TV series, “Big City Greens,” about a family that moves from the country to the city. Over 12 episodes, three different pairs of children ages 6-14 face off and put their baking skills to the test by creating desserts based on various Disney shows and movies.
Shelby and Lylah, also known as “Buttercream Besties,” had to participate in two challenges during the bake-off and incorporate those challenges into the final design. They used Kosher ingredients including Persian fruit roll-ups from their local Persian market to incorporate both Lylah’s Persian roots and their Jewish identities into the recipe. “Big City Greens” creators and executive producers Chris and Shane Houghton joined the kitchen as guest judges.
“I did have some experience [baking] from the High Holy Days with my grandmother and mother because I have a big Jewish family and we love food,” Shelby said, adding that their cake’s design was based on characters in the show who remain friends after one of them moves away. It was a fitting design, given that Lylah moved to Dallas, Tx, during the pandemic.
While the Buttercream Besties didn’t win, Shelby said the real prize was getting to bake with her best friend before she moved. “This was a last final shebang [together] and it’s something we are never going to forget,” she said.
New episodes of “Disney’s Magic Bake-Off” are available Fridays at 7 pm PT on Disney Channel and in the DisneyNOW app.
