Sweet Stakes & Small-Town Pride: SLO Pastry Chef Heads to Finale of Food Netowrk's Ultimate Baking Championship | Up+Adam

Sponsored by The Mountain AirAdam opens this episode with something real and personal. After being off the mic for a couple of days, he shares why. His dad, they call him Opa, was unexpectedly hospitalized, and what initially seemed like back pain turned into something far more serious. In true Up+Adam fashion, Adam brings listeners into that moment with honesty, gratitude, and heart, reflecting on family, community, and the overwhelming support that shows up when life shifts without warning.From there, the show turns toward something equally powerful in a different way. From San Luis Obispo to the national spotlight, this is one of those stories that feels bigger than the moment itself. Florencia Breda, co-owner of Breda in downtown SLO, joins Up+Adam on the day of the finale of Food Network’s The Ultimate Baking Championship. After competing against 16 of the country’s top pastry chefs, she’s now one of the final three, navigating high-stakes challenges that demand precision, creativity, and endurance at the highest level.In this conversation, Florencia opens up about the surreal nature of seeing herself on a show she grew up watching, the emotional weight of keeping the outcome a secret for weeks, and the powerful role community has played in her journey. From hosting watch parties at her shop to hearing from world-renowned pastry chef Antonio Bachour, this moment is about more than competition. It is about growth, gratitude, and the realization that years of hard work are paying off in real time.Whether you are a foodie, an aspiring chef, or someone chasing a dream, this episode captures what it feels like to be in the arena when everything is on the line.• Learn more about Breda: https://www.breda-slo.com/ • Follow Florencia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breda_slo/ • Watch The Ultimate Baking Championship on Food Network: https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/the-ultimate-baking-championship*********PORTABIDET: UP+ADAM IS AN OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON FOR PORTABIDET - USE THIS LINK FOR UP+ADAM LISTENERS TO LEARN MORE AND GET YOURS!*Timbre Event with Cal Poly EIM Students Info HEREListen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:Official Website: adammontiel.comApple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple PodcastsSpotify: Up+Adam on SpotifyiHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadioYouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music********CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!********ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!********FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM*********Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!Life ElementsCity of SLOWoodsHumaneSocietyTin City DistilleryOriginal Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner CollectiveMoonshiner on Spotify HEREPlease Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com©2026 Up+Adam with Adam Montiel / LoBro Studios, All Rights Reserved.