In the News

  • A Star Baker’s Obsession with an Alpine Cake Elevates an Unlikely Wine

    TRINK Magazine | By Martin Sorge | March 18, 2024

    What happens when you mix an obsession-worthy cake from Südtirol-Alto Adige with a super-talented star baker fresh off his big win on season six of the Great American Baking Show?


    You get this tantalizing story by Chicago-based food and wine talent Martin Sorge! Here he finds inspiration in the sights, smells, and flavors of the Dolomites.

  • Acclaimed Baker Martin Sorge Shares Home Baking Tips and Tricks

    Daytime Chicago | By Amy Rutledge & Tonya Francisco | March 13, 2024

    Nothing says springtime like a lemon curd snacking cake and who better to break down the recipe than the most recent winner of “The Great American Baking Show”.
    Acclaimed baker, Martin Sorge stopped by to share his best home baking tips and tricks.

  • Martin Sorge’s Black Emmer Carrot Cake

    Chicago magazine | By Cate Huguelet | March 6, 2024

    Seasonal ingredients like Midwestern rhubarb and exotic citrus have long inspired Chicago’s own Great American Baking Show winner, Martin Sorge. But as his skills flourished, he began exploring beyond the produce department. “I discovered the array of grains and flours that could add flavor to my creations,” he says, prompting this cozy take on classic carrot cake.

  • Swedish Bakery nostalgia: Your guide to re-creating a recipe from one of Chicago’s most-missed bakeries

    Chicago Tribune | By Martin Sorge | March 5, 2024

    We think some businesses will last forever. We assume a place that’s been around for 80 years will stick around for 80 more. But what happens when you learn that they’re about to disappear?

    Get the recipe for the Swedish Bakery’s signature Andersonville Coffee Cake.

  • Raspberry & Pistachio Brownie Recipe

    Bake Magazine | By Martin Sorge | February 16, 2024

    In this recipe, zippy raspberries, caramelized praline and crunchy pistachios give new layers of flavor to a fudgy classic, and a whisper of almond extract enhances the whole vibe.

  • The 11 Best Bakeware Sets Of 2023

    Southern Living | By Carrie Honaker | December 13, 2023

    Nothing gets you thinking about fresh-from-the-oven baked goods like new bakeware. Whipping up a warm, bubbly cobbler at home couldn’t be easier—just gather your favorite fruit, some pantry ingredients, and a baking pan, and homemade dessert is moments away.

  • The Different Types of Baking Yeast, and When to Use Them

    Food & Wine | By Martin Sorge | December 5, 2023

    Although the name Saccharomyces cerevisiae might sound ominous, it’s simply the name of the organism that makes our bread rise. But you won’t see that scientific name on packets of yeast at the supermarket. Instead, you’ll see terms like active dry yeast, instant yeast, even fresh yeast. Which one should you bake with? And how do they work? You can make great bread with all types of yeast, but here are my tips and suggestions.

  • Your Biggest Pie Baking Questions Answered

    Food & Wine | By Martin Sorge | November 30, 2023

    “Easy as pie” they say. But anyone who’s made pie before knows that starting out is not quite that easy. But once you get the hang of it, making pie becomes a joy. You simply need to learn the basic principles — and some handy tips and tricks don’t hurt.

  • Crunchy sesame, caramelized nuts and coconut flakes clinch 2023 Holiday Cookie Contest honors

    Chicago Tribune | By Lauryn Azu, Louisa Kung Liu Chu & Shanzeh Ahmad | November 29, 2023

    For the home bakers who enter the Tribune Holiday Cookie Contest each year, the recipes are about more than just sweet things to eat — they represent valuable memories of the holiday season. This year we were joined by Season 6 “Great American Baking Show” competitors Nirali Chauhan, Sarah Chang and Martin Sorge for judging in the Tribune test kitchen. They were tasked with sampling and evaluating each cookie for its originality, flavor, appearance and texture. Aside from their baking knowledge, they brought a certain holiday cheer to the newsroom.

  • How to make your dessert table stand out this Thanksgiving

    WBEZ Chicago | November 17, 2023

    Ah, Thanksgiving. The holiday of turkey, stuffing and lots and lots of pie.
    Reset turns to a couple of amateur baking enthusiasts for how they make their baking stand out, what holiday recipes they have in store and — while we’re at it — dig into the latest season of The Great British Baking Show.

  • 5 Things I Learned From Competing on 'The Great American Baking Show'

    Food & Wine | By Martin Sorge | October 12, 2023

    When I was selected to compete on the most recent season of The Great American Baking Show, streaming on The Roku Channel, I had no idea what to expect. As a fan of both the American and British versions of the show, I was awe-struck, even before I got there.

  • Chicagoan wins Season 6 of ‘The Great American Baking Show’

    WBEZ Chicago | By Brenda Ruiz | July 21, 2023

    Competition doesn’t always lead to close friendship, but for three bakers in the latest season of the The Great American Baking Show, that’s exactly what happened. Reset hears from the season winner on his baking creations and the camaraderie among the Chicago contestants.

  • The Great Chicago Baking Show: 3 local bakers compete in new season of American spinoff — here are their favorite recipes

    Chicago Tribune | By Olivia Alexander | May 04, 2023

    Three Chicagoans will be among competitors vying for a coveted Hollywood Handshake — and a cake plate — in the new season of “The Great American Baking Show,” which premieres Friday on The Roku Channel.

  • Chicago bakers face off on ‘The Great American Baking Show’

    WBEZ Chicago | By Meha Ahmad | May 8, 2023

    Nine bakers enter the tent. Only one walks away as the ultimate Star Baker.

    Britain’s popular and wholesome baking competition returns stateside with its spin-off “The Great American Baking Show.”

  • ‘The Great American Baking Show’ Chicago Contestants

    WGNTV | By Amy Rutledge, Tonya Francisco | May 5, 2023

    The sixth season of the Great American Baking Show premieres exclusively on the Roku channel today and we are getting an inside look with the show’s Chicago contestants. Joining us in our Studio 41 kitchen with their takes on Chicago desserts are Sarah Chang, Nirali Chauhan, and Martin Sorge.

  • Three Chicagoans Compete on The Great American Baking Show

    Chicago Magazine | By Nathan Ansell | May 5, 2023

    The Windy City contestants entered the baking tent as strangers and returned home as friends.

    When Martin Sorge, a consultant and former economic development coordinator for the City of Chicago, stepped into a picturesque English country estate to film Season 6 of The Great American Baking Show, he didn’t expect to encounter a fellow Chicagoan — let alone two.

  • 3 Chicago Contestants On ‘Great American Baking Show’ Go From Competitors To Friends

    Block Club Chicago | By Joe Ward | May 1, 2023

    The Chicago contestants are hosting a watch party for this season of "The Great American Baking Show," which premiers Friday. Three Chicagoans entered England as strangers and competitors on a beloved baking show. They left as friends who regularly hang out back home. As for what happened in between, you’ll have to watch this season of “The Great American Baking Show.”