Food Network’s ‘Halloween Wars’ is bigger

By Andrew Warren TV Media

AHalloween tradition is back for even more scares, and this year it’s brought friends. Every fall, “Halloween Wars” spooks audiences with its incredibly sugary creations, and this year’s competition, which premieres Sunday, Sept. 30, on Food Network, promises to deliver.

Actor Jonathan Bennett (“Mean Girls,” 2004) is back to host the competition that sees six teams building incredibly elaborate, detailed and spooky edible displays that definitely put the “treat” in “trick or treat.” Each team is made up of a cake artist, a sugar master and an expert pumpkin carver, and over the se- ries’ five episodes they’re tasked with making more and more displays that have to taste as good as they look.

Of course, every competition needs some judges, and this year’s panel is comprised of horror film special effects master Todd Tucker and celebrated cake decorator Shinmin Li. A rotating panel of guest judges rounds out the panel, with Sean Gunn (“Gilmore Girls”), Gaten Matarazzo (“Stranger Things”) and director Mick Garris (“The Stand”) all taking a turn.

This year, the trick-or-treating has managed to snag some extra treats. Immediately before Sunday’s premiere, “Road to Halloween Wars” goes behind the scenes to give audiences a look at just what goes on in the lead-up to the series. From around the globe, some of the most skilled cake, pumpkin and sugar artists hone their ghoulish genius in hopes of wowing the judges and scaring off the competition.

Then, following Sunday’s premiere, there’s even more sweet treats with “Halloween Wars: Even More Monstrous Scares.” The special takes a look back at some of the most memorable displays in the show’s history, revisit- ing the terrifying witches, ghosts, werewolves and vampires that have graced the series since its first competition back in 2011. That’s three hours of Halloween trickery in one night, and there’s a reason that “Halloween Wars” is such a seasonal favorite. The edible displays really are visual masterpieces, and with $50,000 up for grabs for the winning team, the competition is fierce. “Halloween Wars” premieres Sunday, Sept. 30, on Food Network.

Sunday, Sept. 30

10:30 a.m. (8) WDSE Around the Farm Table

1:00 p.m. (9) KAWE Lidia’s Kitchen Eggs poached in tomato sauce; stuffed tomatoes; tomato soup with basil and yogurt.

2:00 p.m. (8) WDSE Martha Stewart’s Cooking School Martha prepares scalloped potatoes and potato salad.

2:30 p.m. (8) WDSE A Chef’s Life Three different ways to bring out the bitter and the sweet in rutabagas.

3:00 p.m. (8) WDSE The Great British Baking Show For their Signature challenge, the bakers go all out with two types of sponge puddings.

Monday, Oct. 1

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show Viewers are presented with great recipes and simple solutions for everyday issues.

Tuesday, Oct. 2

11:30 a.m. (9) KAWE Sara’s Weeknight Meals Sara joins local chef Franck Garanger for a market tour to gather ingredients for paella. (N)

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show Viewers are presented with great recipes and simple solutions for everyday issues.

Wednesday, Oct. 3

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show Viewers are presented with great recipes and simple solutions for everyday issues.

Thursday, Oct. 4

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show Viewers are presented with great recipes and simple solutions for everyday issues.

Friday, Oct. 5

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show Viewers are presented with great recipes and simple solutions for everyday issues.

Saturday, Oct. 6

6:00 a.m. TRAV Food Paradise We’ve devoted a whole episode to the best Cajun and Creole dishes in the Big Easy.

7:00 a.m. TRAV Food Paradise Ooey, gooey, chewy and delicious and maximum meltdown.

8:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Simply Ming TRAV Food Paradise These Southern-inspired spots are crushing country cooking across the US.

8:30 a.m. (2) KTCA Moveable Feast With Fine Cooking (N)

A&E Food Quest Kim Alexis and Mario Lopez take viewers from California to Europe. (N)

9:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Martha Bakes Make an easy-to-prepare sweetyeasted dough in three addictive recipes.

TRAV Food Paradise Triple-wide Cajun country pork chop stacked sky-high of piggy perfection.

9:30 a.m. (2) KTCA How to Cook Well With Rory O’Connell Grilled scallions with mushroom and anchovy; poached monkfish; apricot tart.

10:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Pati’s Mexican Table (N)

TRAV Food Paradise Bird is the word as the country’s choicest chicken dishes are highlighted.

10:30 a.m. (2) KTCA Kevin Belton’s New Orleans Kitchen

11:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Jacques Pépin: More Fast Food My Way

11:30 a.m. (2) KTCA Lidia’s Kitchen (N)

Noon (2) KTCA Sara’s Weeknight Meals Sara joins local chef Franck Garanger for a market tour to gather ingredients for paella. (N) (9) KAWE America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated Test cook Dan Souza makes Bridget the ultimate olive oil cake.

12:30 p.m. (2) KTCA America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated Julia Collin Davison reveals the steps for making perfect panseared salmon.

1:00 p.m. (2) KTCA Cook’s Country From America’s Test Kitchen Julia and Bridget make flank steak in adobo. (N)

1:30 p.m. (2) KTCA Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street In Tokyo, Elizabeth Andoh shows Chris how to make skillet glazed chicken. (N)

2:30 p.m. (8) WDSE Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Milk Street is a multimedia, instructional food preparation organization.

3:00 p.m. (8) WDSE In Julia’s Kitchen With Master Chefs Julia Child and expert guests offer tips and recipes that make home baking successful.

Brainerd Daily Dispatch, MN: Food Sep 30, 2018 to Oct 6, 2018

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