Michelle Gayer possible judge for new baking competition show

Do you recognize this woman? The rest of America may be getting to know her soon too.

As American television networks are wont to do, CBS announced it is developing its own version of the popular UK series The Great British Bake Off, a competition show that pits the country's best amateur bakers against one another over the course of several weeks. Contestants must display proficiency with pastries, bread, custards, and cakes in all aspects from technical baking to festive frosting. Sounds pretty fun to watch, but as with any reality competition show, cooking or otherwise, you need captivating judges to really seal the deal with viewers.

The new show -- to be called, predictably, The Great American Bake Off -- is seeking out experienced, talented, and charismatic personalities from the world of professional American baking to audition to serve as judges. Anyone local come to mind? You might have had one of her incredible Surly cupcakes, or maybe sampled her famous and deceptively simple cream-filled brioche, or eaten a sandwich on one of her gorgeously glossy buns at restaurants around town. Mpls/St. Paul Magazine reports that Michelle Gayer, James Beard Award-winning pastry chef and owner of beloved Salty Tart bakery, is being considered as the female judge for the show and has already been to audition for the part in California.