KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
November 20, 2024
By Natalie Cook Clark
Hemlata Basumatary, who goes by Hemu Basu, is a Katy chef and cooking show TV star. She’s the owner of a Katy bakery and has stared on 4 major network cooking shows. She’s currently continuing to advance in The Food Network’s Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking.
Photo credit: The Food Network
Katy chef Hemu Basu is currently competing in Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking on The Food Network. This is not the local bakery owner’s first time on a baking show. She has appeared on 4 major networks and was the 2022 Food Network’s The Big Bake champion.
In Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking, contestants compete in a baking competition centered around prompts themed by the Internationally beloved brand.
“Harry Potter holds a very special place in my heart,” says Hemu Basu. “It transcends being just a story or a movie; it has truly been one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. The best stories are those that can evoke tears and laughter simultaneously, and this series brilliantly delves into themes of friendship, bravery, love, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. It resonates so deeply with so many of us as we navigate our own journeys.”
Basu says that she finds immense joy when people request Harry Potter-themed cakes at her bakery.
“It feels like a part of that magic, and I’ve had the pleasure of creating quite a few,” adds Basu.
Basu says that the experience of filming this show was unlike any other because of the incredible sets and themes that pushed her to her limits in so many ways. Hemu Basu has always loved to cook, but her love and talent for baking was rekindled in 2012 when she was inspired to bake a firetruck birthday cake for her son’s birthday. She went to a Katy library and went through all the cookbooks specific to baking for ideas.
Hemu launched a bakery in 2013, when her family lived in Aberdeen, a small city in Scotland. Then her husband was transferred to Houston.
“The fear of restarting was stressful, but I was happy because I knew I would get more exposure, and more opportunities,” says Hemu.
Hemu opened her home-based Katy bakery, The Sweet Sensation, in 2015. She specializes in cakes and cupcakes for all occasions and works with clients to meet custom requests.
“Katy has given me so much, I love my clients they know my potential and they always ask for exciting cakes,” says Basu.
Learn more about Hemu's Sweet Sensation here.
In 2019 Basu starred in her first TV cooking competition show, The Food Network’s Wedding Cake Championship. She impressed judges and fans alike with her impressive skill and intricate cake designs. A Big accomplishment for a self-taught bakery chef.
Her cooking show credits include: The Wedding Cake Championship (runner-up) and Halloween Wars (bakes on the winning team) both with The Food Network. She was a finalist on Is It Cake? On Netflix and most recently her team one on the Food Network’s The Big Bake.
“As a home baker, I feel grateful for the opportunities that have come my way,” says Basu. “Recently, I had the incredible honor of collaborating with Universal Studios, and I’m excited to be working with another brand now! The demand for my sculpted and wedding cakes and classes has become quite overwhelming in the best way possible.”
Basu is always quick to inspire those who also find joy in baking.“I’ve learned that practice is truly essential in the art of baking,” explains Basu. “It not only helps refine our techniques and build confidence, but it also allows us to learn and grow from our mistakes.”
Basu stresses that continue practice and perseverance are key in baking.
“Baking is a beautiful blend of art and science, and with experimentation, we begin to understand the magic behind how ingredients come together to create perfect textures and flavors,” says Basu. “Through it all, the most important thing is to never give up.”
See her love for baking and the magic of the Harry Potter universe in Harry Potter: Wizards of baking currently airing on The Food Network.
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