For about two years now, Kathleen Regelman and Hannah Reyes have owned and overseen Kreger’s Bakery and Deli in Wausau. But now they’ve taken the brand national after becoming local stars.
The pair of military spouses and parents will appear on “Crime Scene Kitchen” when it premieres on the Fox network June 5. The reality baking competition show hosted by actor Joel McHale tasks bakers with deciphering the type of dessert made in a kitchen using crumbs, flour trails, and a handful of clues. It is going into its second season and, while Regelman and Reyes got on via an Instagram message they first dismissed, it fits within their goals for the business.
“We are idea people,” Regelman says. “We never want to stop innovating. We are always considering ideas and looking at new and fresh ways to grow this business. We kinda looked at each other like, ‘this is a lifetime opportunity, let’s do it’ and it all happened fairly quickly.”
Kreger’s Bakery earning the role
First came an audition which consisted of a 24-hour challenge to make a specific cake, some paperwork and pictures. Then the pair found themselves on a plane to California in April last year. The initial commitment time-wise was a few weeks. Regelman’s parents watched her children while she was away.
The two-hour time crunch they get in each episode to decipher a cooking conundrum was intimidating. Pre-release screeners City Pages accessed show the pair make some mistakes. Right now they are not letting any of these define them.
“It was a really rewarding and once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Reyes adds. “There was definitely a lot of pressure and as anyone who has baked anything would know, the chances are something will not work out like expected, especially when in an unfamiliar environment. It does happen.”
Star power?
In the future, Regelman and Reyes say they will be collaborating with fellow contestants. They weren’t as star struck with them as they were with McHale and judges Yolanda Gampp and Curtis Stone. Though broad exposure can sometimes lead to a business being swamped, the duo believes they are ready. For Reyes, any publicity is good publicity if it helps out the business.
“Bring it on,” Reyes says. “It is exciting. It has always been our goal and our dream to get something good here and if that is what will help do it, then yeah. Let’s do it. Kreger’s is a really great place and more need to know about it and hopefully, this is what will happen.”
“Crime Scene Kitchen” is set to premiere June 5. Check your local listings and additional information can be found over on the show’s Facebook page. Kreger’s is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., closed on Sundays and Mondays. The bakery is also offering hot dog specials on weekends also.
Evan J. Pretzer is a contributor to City Pages. He can be reached at [email protected].
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