Sweet showdown: Local doctor competes on Netflix's 'Blue Ribbon Baking Championship'

Dr. Ron Bronitsky is a man of many talents.

The retired pulmonary care doctor is a baker, singer and actor who performs in musical theater productions around town.

Bronitsky’s baking skills have won him blue ribbons at the New Mexico State Fair for his pies and have landed him on the Netflix series “Blue Ribbon Baking Championship,” which premieres on Friday. Blue ribbon-winning bakers from state fairs across the country face off in the baking showdown to win top honors and $100,000.

Bronitsky said about 300 contestants were narrowed down to 10 who made the final cut to compete in the show.

“It was like, ‘Oh my God, now what have I gotten myself into?’” Bronitsky said about his reaction to being selected for the show. “I really did not think I would be chosen because a lot of the people that were entering were amazing bakers.”

Baking became part of Bronitsky’s life at a young age. He credits his mother for teaching him how to bake.

“When I was a kid, she always let me help make chocolate chip cookies,” he said. “I got to get the dough that was left over or I’d steal a couple spoonfuls. And then she taught me how to make pies, just some basic stuff.”

People would frequently tell Bronitsky that he made a “pretty good pie.” More than 20 years ago, he entered his first pie into the New Mexico State Fair contest. His blueberry pie took first prize and Best in Show, which led him to become hooked on entering contests.

“I have friends who have liked my baking, so I just kind of took it up as a hobby and tried to refine my ability to bake so that I’d knock it out of the park every time,” he said.

Viewers will have to watch the show to see how Bronitsky fared in the Netflix competition. He said it was quite a challenge having to bake under the clock.

“It’s the most insane, craziest things I’ve ever done,” he said. “There were cameras everywhere. This is a multi-million dollar extravaganza. ... It was taking place in a state fair setting. So in the background, there were all these carnival rides, and there was very long days.”

He said the contestants were given boot camps by culinary professionals — a professional baker taught the competitors some techniques — and challengers were taught how to use the equipment, all of which led to 12- to 16-hour days.

“When we were actually competing, those were 16-hour days, and you’ve got to get up the next day and go at it again. It was very intense. But the friendships I made with some of the bakers are lifelong.”

Bronitsky said he would compete again if given the opportunity.

“(There is) knowledge that I got from this show that I could carry to the next show,” he said. “There were so many things that I could have done differently in terms of some of the bakes, but I didn’t realize while I was creating recipes that you could do other things. The other people were much more in the groove, because a lot of them had competed in baking shows in the past and I was a rookie.”

Bronitsky said the host of the show, Jason Biggs, got wind that he performed in musical theater.

“So they had me sing a little bit on the show,” he said. “We’ll see how that came out.”

Bronitsky is an avid pie baker and sells his creations at Los Ranchos Growers Market on Saturdays.

“I’m making a brand new one that I’m trying out,” he said . “I’ve never made it before. It’s an orange rum maple pecan pie. And I made a green chile apple pie as well. And the only thing left I have to make — well, I haven’t decided yet, (but) maybe a strawberry rhubarb. It’s the season for it.”