Pastry Arts Podcast

Pastry Arts Podcast is the leading interview series for pastry & baking professionals and serious enthusiasts. Each episode features intimate conversations with industry leaders who share their career journeys, hard-won wisdom, and professional insights that inspire, educate, and connect our global community.

Chef Susan Notter, C.E.P.C.: The Multi-faceted Career of a Pastry Icon 06/26/2025

Chef Susan Notter, C.E.P.C.: The Multi-faceted Career of a Pastry Icon Born and raised in England, Susan Notter started baking at a young age, then attended culinary school while working in a pastry shop. After graduating, Chef Notter had the opportunity to work in Germany for Konditorei Heinmann, where she spent three years learning about European pastries and confections. Switzerland followed, and more experience with chocolate at Confiserie Bachmann in Luzern and Confiserie Honold in Zurich. While working in Zurich, Susan started taking sugar classes with Ewald Notter, who had just started the sugar school in Zurich. After a few months, Susan joined the school full-time, gaining more experience with pulled and blown sugar and eventually teaching classes alongside Ewald. The school grew and became internationally renowned; this led to world- wide travel, including to the U.S. to teach and demonstrate the art of pulled and blown sugar to many chefs. In 2000, Susan moved to Alabama to open the Pastry and Baking division of Culinard, at Virginia College. Chef Notter has spent many years in the education field, teaching and as program director of pastry arts programs. In addition to this she has represented the country multiple times and the Culinary Olympics in Germany, placed 3rd at the Queen of Pastry in Italy and successfully coached 1st and 2nd place winners at the same competition. Currently, Chef Notter is the pastry coach of the USA Culinary Olympic Team, which represents the USA in international culinary competitions. She has appeared on numerous Food Network shows, including Halloween Wars, where she had the honor of being part of the winning team on the first season. After spending the past four years as one of Felchlin‘s Corporate Pastry Chefs representing the company with technical support for the U.S. market, Chef Notter has now opened Elizabeth Moore Chocolates, where she is creating fine European chocolates, single-origin chocolate bars, teaching classes and designing special occasion sugar and chocolate showpieces. In this episode, we discuss: How Susan discovered her love of baking Culinary school and an apprenticeship at Konditorei Heinmann Jobs in Zurich and her introduction to pulled sugar Teaching sugar classes and giving demos all over the world Implementing college pastry programs in Alabama and Pennsylvania Working as a Corporate Pastry Chef at Felchlin Competing in pastry at the elite level Opening Elizabeth Moore Chocolates, a luxury boutique in Pelham, Alabama Susan’s best tip for tempering chocolate And much more! Episode Sponsored by Puratos Okay, so bad news first: you can’t travel back in time. Good news? has what you need to order or reorder so you can get back to business ASAP––no calls with sales reps. Better news: your first order is 20% off. Future you will thank you. Visit and click on MyPuratos to sign up and order today /episode/index/show/pastryartsmag/id/37149380

Thomas Haas: Passionate Pastry Chef, Successful Entrepreneur 05/20/2025

Thomas Haas: Passionate Pastry Chef, Successful Entrepreneur A fourth-generation pâtissier, Thomas Haas was first introduced to the delicate art of hand-crafting chocolates and pastries in the kitchen of Cafe Konditorei Haas, opened by his great-grandfather in the Black Forest region of Aichhalden, Germany, in 1918. Thomas carried the torch and continued his family’s long-standing tradition, apprenticing and working with top chefs in Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe en route to earning his stripes as Konditormeister, or Master Pastry Chef. In 1995, Thomas was lured to Vancouver to take the role of Executive Pastry Chef at the Four Seasons Hotel, where he met his wife Lisa and twice placed in the top-three in the prestigious annual North American Pastry Chef of the Year competition in New York City. Thomas took an even larger bite of the Big Apple in 1998, when he moved to New York, and as Executive Pastry Chef, helped famed restaurateur and chef Daniel Boulud launch his flagship eatery, Daniel, in Manhattan's Upper East Side. During his time in Gotham, Thomas was singled out as one of the Top Ten Pastry Chefs in America by Chocolatier and Pastry Art & Design magazines and saw his star further rise when he made several appearances on Martha Stewart Living, and other international television shows. Today, Thomas and his wife Lisa own and operate Thomas Haas Chocolates & Patisserie in North Vancouver and the Kitsilano section of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. Instagram: Website: In this episode we discuss how Thomas fared: Growing up in Germany as part of a pastry and baking dynasty Surviving an apprenticeship with a “crazy genius” pastry chef Honing his skills at a five-star property in Davos and a Michelin one-star restaurant in St. Moritz Fulfilling a dream by moving to the U.S. Snagging the job of a lifetime: Executive Pastry Chef at Daniel in NYC Learning lessons from Chef Daniel Boulud Opening his own business in Vancouver, Canada And much more! /episode/index/show/pastryartsmag/id/36640815

Katarina Cermelj: Cookbook Author, Food Writer and Creator of The Loopy Whisk, an Allergy-Free Baking Blog 04/22/2025

Christophe Rull: An Executive Pastry Chef with a Flair for Showmanship 03/19/2025

Christophe Rull: An Executive Pastry Chef with a Flair for Showmanship Christophe Rull boasts over 20 years of distinguished experience as a pastry chef. Born and raised in France, Chef Rull embarked on his culinary journey at the young age of 16 at the Michelin-starred restaurant Abbaye de St. Croix in the South of France. After completing a rigorous five-year apprenticeship, he honed his skills at renowned Michelin-starred establishments such as Le Richelieu and Les Roches Fleuries. In 2008, Chef Rull advanced his career as Chef de Partie at La Maison de Marc Veyrat, a prestigious three-Michelin-star restaurant, before joining the esteemed Pastry School ENSP as an Assistant Pastry Instructor. The following year, he played a key role in the opening of the Aria Las Vegas Hotel & Casino's pastry team, subsequently rising to the position of Assistant Executive Pastry Chef at MGM Grand Las Vegas. In 2016, his expertise earned him the role of Executive Pastry Chef at the luxury Park Hyatt Aviara, where he served with distinction for five years. After moving to the United States, Chef Rull participated in numerous professional competitions, achieving notable success. He was awarded Best Artistry in Showpiece and Best Chocolate Showpiece at Pastry Live in 2014 and 2015. In 2017, he won Season 7 of Food Network's Halloween Wars, and in 2018, he secured the title for Food Network's Holiday Wars. In 2021, Chef Rull was honored as the U.S. Chocolate Master. He then dedicated his time to preparing for the World Chocolate Master competition, where he achieved an impressive 5th place in Paris, competing against representatives from 18 nations. Most recently, Chef Rull has been featured on the popular Netflix reality TV show, Bake Squad. Since March 2023, he has served as the Executive Pastry Chef at Hotel Bel-Air, where he continues to showcase his passion and creativity in pastry. In his free time, you can find Christophe in his kitchen, sharing home-friendly recipes on his YouTube channel, Rull’s Kitchen, where his main goal is to inspire and educate aspiring bakers all over the world. In this episode, we discuss: Christophe’s introduction to cuisine and pastry in the South of France Completing a five-year apprenticeship at Abbaye de St. Croix in Provence Working at Michelin-starred and Relais & Châteaux restaurants in France Moving to the U.S. to work at the Aria Las Vegas Hotel & Casino Honing his skills at the MGM Grand Las Vegas Taking the position of Executive Pastry Chef at the Park Hyatt Aviara Competing on FoodNetwork shows and BakeSquad on Netflix Sacrificing much to compete in the World Chocolate Masters Competition Starting his YouTube channel, Rull’s Kitchen And much more! Episode Sponsored by Puratos Need ingredients ASAP? The MyPuratos webshop has your back 24/7 with what you need, when you need it. Order and reorder online instantly––no sales reps, no hassle. Plus, check out consumer insights and add recipe ingredients to your cart with a click. Right now, get 20% off your first order. Visit and click on MyPuratos to sign up and order today. /episode/index/show/pastryartsmag/id/35726500

En-Ming Hsu: From Pastry Trailblazer to Successful Entrepreneur 02/18/2025

En-Ming Hsu: From Pastry Trailblazer to Successful Entrepreneur World-renowned pastry chef En-Ming Hsu’s accomplishments are as numerous as they are impressive. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, En-Ming’s career began in the kitchens of the famed Lespinasse restaurant in New York City’s exclusive St. Regis Hotel and Patisserie Café Didier in Washington DC. From 1994 to 2004, En-Ming worked at The Ritz-Carlton Chicago Hotel, for most of that time as Executive Pastry Chef. Since then, she has been sharing her knowledge as an independent pastry chef and consultant. She has taught at leading culinary institutions worldwide, including King Arthur Baking Education Center and The French Pastry School. As winner of prestigious competitions, En-Ming is often invited to serve as a jury member for national and international pastry competitions. In 2001, En-Ming served as Team Captain of the first and only U.S. pastry team to take the gold medal at the Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie in Lyon, France. This bi-annual competition highlights the skills and gastronomic innovations of the world’s finest pastry chefs. She has returned to the Coupe du Monde to serve as President of the International Jury, Jury President and Manager for Team USA, and guest commentator. In 1997, En-Ming was named “Pastry Chef of the Year in America” for capturing the gold medal at the Eighth Annual U.S. Pastry Competition. Other awards include “Rising Star Chef of 1999” for the James Beard Foundation, one of the “Top 10 Pastry Chefs in America” by both Chocolatier and Pastry Art & Design magazines, “Best Pastry Chef in Chicago” by Chicago magazine, “Best Pastry Chef in Chicago” at Jean Banchet Chef’s Gala, “Distinguished Visiting Pastry Chef” by Johnson and Wales University, and “Lifetime Achievement Award” by Paris Gourmet. She was also recognized by Académie Culinaire de France as Dame de l’Année 2009. She received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University. In 2010, En-Ming was presented with the Amoretti World Pastry Team Championship “Pastry Chef of the Year” award. In 2022, En-Ming was the recipient of the Woman of Distinction Award (Manufacturing category) by the Southern Nevada chapter of National Association of Women Business Owners. In October 2021, En-Ming and her sister Yih-Ming formed Sip LLC to produce their luxurious Sip! Extraordinary Drinking Chocolate mix. Sip! is a rich, creamy beverage that may be served hot, chilled, or frozen. It is available online at sipextraordinary.com for retail and wholesale orders. Sip proudly partners with other small businesses to manufacture Sip!. En-Ming developed Sip! to be a multi-purpose product that can be transformed into irresistible treats including chocolate mousse, gelato-style frozen dessert, chocolate milkshake, and other delights. Sip’s mission is to support nonprofit organizations that feed hungry children. En-Ming’s work has been featured in So Good, Modern Baking, Art Culinaire, Food Arts, Gourmet, Chef’s Magazine, Pastry Art and Design, Pastry’s Best, and Shelter magazines. Her recipes have also been published in A Neoclassic View of Plated Desserts, A Modernist View of Plated Desserts, Exceptional Excursions, The Pastry Chef’s Apprentice, and Essentials of Nutrition for Chefs. Video classes are available on craftsy.com and her DVD Chocolate Pastries Made Simply at Home. En-Ming is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier, and L’Academie Culinaire. For more information, visit sipextraordinary.com. In this episode we discuss: How a job at a catering company sparked interest in a culinary career Studying at CIA and graduating with a Baking and Pastry Art degree Working with legendary chef Gray Kunz at Lespinasse in NY and Dieter Schorner at Café Didier in Washington D.C. Landing a job with Sébastien Canonne at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago Working her way up to Executive Pastry Chef at the Ritz-Carlton Winning Gold with Team USA at the Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie in 2001 Launching Sip! Extraordinary Drinking Chocolate with her sister And much more! /episode/index/show/pastryartsmag/id/35312980

Rose Levy Beranbaum: Baking icon and author of the newly revised The Cake Bible 01/20/2025

Ben Mims: Celebrated Food Writer, Recipe Developer and Cookbook Author 12/16/2024

Ben Mims: Celebrated Food Writer, Recipe Developer and Cookbook Author Ben Mims is a highly regarded James Beard Award-nominated cookbook author and food writer with a passion for crafting inventive, accessible recipes. Over his career, Mims has established himself as a dynamic presence in the culinary world, contributing to some of the most prestigious food publications and platforms. His expertise as a food columnist, editor, and recipe developer has been showcased in renowned outlets like the Los Angeles Times, Food & Wine, Saveur, Lucky Peach, and BuzzFeed’s Tasty. In addition to his editorial work, Mims has penned three celebrated cookbooks, where his signature style of blending comfort food with innovative techniques is on full display. His recipes are noted for their creativity, practical approach, and ability to bring a fresh perspective to classic dishes. His contributions to the food industry have earned him spots in the annual anthology Best Food Writing, further solidifying his role as a key figure in contemporary food media. Known for his versatility and wide-ranging culinary knowledge, Mims has become a go-to expert for both home cooks and food enthusiasts alike, offering recipes and insights that make gourmet cooking approachable and fun. His continued influence in the culinary world reflects his deep commitment to making good food accessible and enjoyable for everyone. In this recipe, we discuss: How Ben fell in love with cooking Paving the way with journalism and culinary school degrees How an internship with Saveur magazine led to a full-time test kitchen job Landing a coveted job as a food columnist for the L.A. Times How he got his first cookbook contract Tips on making yourself marketable as a freelance food writer The challenges of researching and writing his latest cookbook, Crumbs Some of the interesting tidbits about cookies that can be found in Crumbs Ben’s best kitchen tip on storing spices Ben’s advice on making videos for social media And much more! Episode Sponsored by Puratos Need ingredients ASAP? The MyPuratos webshop has your back 24/7 with what you need, when you need it. Order and reorder online instantly––no sales reps, no hassle. Plus, check out consumer insights and add recipe ingredients to your cart with a click. Right now, get 20% off your first order. Visit and click on MyPuratos to sign up and order today. /episode/index/show/pastryartsmag/id/34467585

Mario Bacherini: Insights on the Industry from the West Coast Pastry Chef of L’École Valrhona 11/25/2024

Mario Bacherini: Insights on the Industry from the West Coast Pastry Chef of L’École Valrhona Based in Los Angeles, California, Chef Mario Bacherini is the West Coast Pastry Chef of L’École Valrhona, where is he conducts classes, demonstrations and workshops for professionals, providing one-on-one culinary consultations and bringing Valrhona’s expert touch to the West Coast. After graduating from culinary school in Florence, Italy, Chef Bacherini went on to do his apprenticeship as a chocolatier. He began working in Michelin-starred restaurants across Italy and France until he decided to settle in Perpignan, France, where he trained under Olivier Bajard (Meilleur Ouvrier de France). In 2008 he moved to Paris, where he worked at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée with French Pastry World Champion Christophe Michalak. Four years later, Bacherini left Paris for New York City, where he took on the role of Executive Pastry Chef at Nobu, managing three restaurants. While in New York, he also traveled the world to teach pastry masterclasses in various countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Italy and France, as well as the United States. In 2017, he moved to Los Angeles where he began his own consulting company, providing consulting for bakeries, pastry shops and restaurants, and later on had the opportunity to work side by side with one of the best pastry chefs in the world, Amaury Guichon, in his newly opened school in Las Vegas. Chef Bacherini continued to deliver his expertise across the United States and abroad until he got the call from Valrhona to join their North America team at the beginning of 2023. In this episode we discuss: A brief overview of Chef Bacherini’s background What his creative process involves when developing a new recipe The four techniques that every pastry chef should master His thoughts on current pastry trends Some of the modern chocolatiers he admires His go-to comfort food dessert to eat at home Upcoming classes at L’Ecole Valrhona Easy hand-tempering techniques The best way to use a dark milk chocolate in a dessert And much more! Episode Sponsored by Puratos Need ingredients ASAP? The MyPuratos webshop has your back 24/7 with what you need, when you need it. Order and reorder online instantly––no sales reps, no hassle. Plus, check out consumer insights and add recipe ingredients to your cart with a click. Even better? You’ll get 20% off your first order. 20% off! How sweet is that? Visit and click on MyPuratos to sign up and order today. /episode/index/show/pastryartsmag/id/34138236

Francois Behuet: Executive Pastry Chef with a Passion for Chocolate 10/03/2024

Francois Behuet: Executive Pastry Chef with a Passion for Chocolate Francois Behuet is the Executive Pastry Chef of the Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles. Since 2022, Behuet has overseen pastry food & beverage outlets at both The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles and JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE, which includes the signature Californian trattoria Savoca, Glance Lobby Bar, Illy Caffé, The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge, in-room dining and Sendero, including three signature dining experiences (Corteza, Leña and The Agave Library). With extensive luxury hospitality experience and a deep understanding of the industry landscape, Behuet brings 20 years of pastry experience, most recently playing a pivotal role at Pendry West Hollywood with Chef Wolfgang Puck. There he worked alongside the team on creating the entire pastry program for the property’s three restaurants, developing a pastry boutique and overseeing the kitchen design. Behuet was a member of the USA Pastry Team that won the silver medal at the Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie’s Americas Continental Selection in Santiago, Chile in 2022. The team went on to compete at the Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie in Lyon, France in 2023. In this episode we discuss: Francois’s roots and how he became interested in pastry His apprenticeships in pastry and chocolate Honing his chocolate skills in Paris His holiday in NYC that led to a move to the U.S. and a job with Payard Moving to L.A. to work for Bottega Louie and then Pendry West Hollywood His current position at the Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles and JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE His involvement with the U.S. Pastry Team Teaching bi-monthly Chocolate Master Classes His best kitchen tips and career advice And much more! Episode Sponsored by Republica Del Cacao This podcast is sponsored by Republica Del Cacao. Say hello to this authentic Latin American Chocolate! They are a local brand with a global impact! The value of their products begins in the hands of their allied farmers, whose raw materials reach their team. Through processes of excellence, they transform them to create fine origin chocolate enjoyed by Chefs and Chocolate enthusiasts in more than 20 countries, as a community and a brand, they are changing the world, one cacao bean, at a time! Visit to learn more. /episode/index/show/pastryartsmag/id/33285277

Stéphane Chéramy: Inspiring Excellence in Pastry 08/21/2024

Stéphane Chéramy: Inspiring Excellence in Pastry Chef Stéphane Chéramy is currently the Executive Pastry Chef at The Ritz-Carlton & JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes, a role he has held since 2006. In this capacity, Chef Chéramy has led the pastry team at this AAA 5-Diamond, Michelin-award-winning resort, managing various aspects of the pastry and bakery operations. Chef Chéramy is also the President of Club Pastry World Cup Team USA, a member of the Académie Culinaire de France and the James Beard Foundation. From 2006 to 2012, Chef Chéramy was the Chairman of the Ritz-Carlton Pastry Advisory Board - Global. Prior to his tenure in Orlando, Chef Chéramy held several notable positions, including Executive Pastry Chef and preopening team member at The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, and Assistant Pastry Chef at The Ritz-Carlton Naples. He also served as an Assistant Pastry Chef and member of the opening team at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. Before coming to the United States, Chef Cheramy worked in a number of restaurants and patisseries in the south of France. He has judged multiple competitions including the United States tryouts for the Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie, US Pastry Chef of the Year, and others. Chef Chéramy won the gold medal at the National Plated Dessert Competition (USA), and multiple silver medals include one at the National Chocolate Competition in France. Club Coupe du Monde Team USA is a leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is dedicated to promoting transmission, exploration, vision and advancement of both the artistic and scientific realms of the Pastry Arts. The Club seeks, recognizes and support America’s best pastry chefs to represent the United States in the Pastry World Cup. With 50 participating countries, this biannual event is considered to be the most prestigious pastry competition in the world. In this episode we discuss: • How Stéphane first became hooked on pastry • His training and honing pastry skills in France • The job that brought him to the U.S. • His career with the Ritz-Carlton • Being named President of Team USA Club Coupe du Monde • His goals for Team USA • Stéphane’s top kitchen tip and advice for aspiring pastry chefs • And much, much more! /episode/index/show/pastryartsmag/id/32654542

Andy Chlebana C.M.P.C., C.C.A.: Teacher, Coach, TV Star 07/11/2024

Susan Bae: Bright Star of the D.C. Pastry Scene and James Beard Award Nominee 06/13/2024

Amy Guittard: Unwrapping the Secrets of America’s Premier Chocolate Company 05/13/2024

Martin Sorge: Turning a Baking Obsession into a First-Place Win on The Great American Baking Show 04/07/2024

Martin Sorge: Turning a Baking Obsession into a First-Place Win on The Great American Baking Show Martin Sorge is a baker, recipe developer, and food writer based in Chicago, IL. A tried-and-true Midwestern native from Fort Wayne, IN, Martin’s passion for baking dates back to his early childhood when he accidentally set a microwave on fire while attempting to make a “biscuit” out of a few simple ingredients. Despite that setback, Martin forged ahead with his love of food to become a self-trained home baker, educating himself on the variety of baking techniques through cookbooks, blogs, friends, learning from mistakes, and lots of eating. He started by baking simple breads and cookies before incorporating more complex dishes to his repertoire, which quickly garnered interest from his friends, family, and community. Looking to share his love for baking with the world, Martin competed in his first-ever baking competition, The Great American Baking Show, and judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith named him the winner in 2023. Today, Martin takes his approachable Midwestern roots, his homebase of Chicago, and his not-too-serious (sometimes corny) personality and combines those with his nerdy technical knowledge to create accessible recipes for the home cook. When he’s not in the kitchen baking up a storm, Martin enjoys board games, jumping in lakes, exploring places near and far with his husband, and his newfound hobby—pottery. (Now he can make the cake and the cake plate.) Follow along with Martin’s baking adventures via Instagram @martinsorge, TikTok @martinsorge, Twitter @martinsorge, his website martinbakes.com, and his Substack newsletter: Great Bakes. In this episode we discuss: How Martin’s food-centric Midwest family nurtured his love of cooking How determination, research and hard work turned Martin into a talented baker Martin’s career as a consultant in economic development for small businesses His top survive-and-thrive tips for owners of small food-related businesses Surviving the application process for The Great American Baking Show The dirty details: what it’s really like to compete on The Great American Baking Show Some of the things Martin's working on now, from recipe development to his Substack newsletter And much more! Episode Sponsored by Republica Del Cacao This podcast is sponsored by Republica Del Cacao. Say hello to this authentic Latin American Chocolate! They are a local brand with a global impact! The value of their products begins in the hands of their allied farmers, whose raw materials reach their team. Through processes of excellence, they transform them to create fine origin chocolate enjoyed by Chefs and Chocolate enthusiasts in more than 20 countries, as a community and a brand, they are changing the world, one cacao bean at a time! /episode/index/show/pastryartsmag/id/30695353

Mario Bacherini: Bringing Decades of Pastry and Chocolate Expertise to L’École Valrhona on the West Coast 03/05/2024

Mario Bacherini: Bringing Decades of Pastry and Chocolate Expertise to L’École Valrhona on the West Coast Based in Los Angeles, California, Chef Mario Bacherini is the West Coast Pastry Chef of L’École Valrhona, where is he is in charge of conducting classes, demonstrations and workshops for professionals, providing one-on-one culinary consultations and bringing Valrhona’s expert touch to the West Coast. After graduating from culinary school in Florence, Italy, Chef Bacherini went on to do his apprenticeship as a chocolatier. He began working in Michelin-starred restaurants across Italy and France until he decided to settle in Perpignan, France, where he trained under Olivier Bajard (Meilleur Ouvrier de France). In 2008 he moved to Paris, where he worked at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée with French Pastry World Champion Christophe Michalak. Four years later, Bacherini left Paris for New York City, where he took on the role of Executive Pastry Chef at Nobu, managing three restaurants. While in New York, he also traveled the world to teach pastry masterclasses in various countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Italy and France, as well as the United States. In 2017, he moved to Los Angeles where he began his own consulting company, providing consulting for bakeries, pastry shops and restaurants, and later on had the opportunity to work side by side with one of the best pastry chefs in the world, Amaury Guichon, in his newly opened school in Las Vegas. Chef Bacherini continued to deliver his expertise across the United States and abroad until he got the call from Valrhona to join their North America team at the beginning of 2023. In this episode we discuss: Bacherini’s challenging childhood and how he became interested in pastry Attending culinary school in Florence How he snagged his apprenticeship with a top-notch chocolatier Moving to France to work for Olivier Bajard, M.O.F. Working with French Pastry World Champion Christophe Michalak at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée Landing the position of Executive Pastry Chef at Nobu in NYC His experience teaching masterclasses around the globe How he became West Coast Pastry Chef for L’École Valrhona A typical day at the office for Chef Bacherini The importance of using high quality ingredients and staying “authentic” And much more! /episode/index/show/pastryartsmag/id/30238793

Didier Saba: Turning a Passion for Macarons into a Thriving Business 02/06/2024

Gonzo Jimenez: Perfecting the Art of All-or-Nothing in Chocolate and in Life 01/10/2024

Philip Khoury: Raising the Bar on Plant-Based Desserts 12/06/2023

Yolanda Gampp: The ‘Queen of Cakes’ and Host of YouTube’s ‘How To Cake It’ 11/07/2023

Adam Thomas: An Untempered Approach to Pastry and Chocolate 10/24/2023

Adam Thomas: An Untempered Approach to Pastry and Chocolate After over 20 years of making sweets in celebrated kitchens all over the world, Chef Adam Thomas launched his own brand, Thomas Craft Confections, in Brenham, TX. Adam began his professional journey working at a San Diego bakery at age 18 with Alsatian master baker Pascal Zindel, and it was there that he realized that confectionary arts was his calling. During a successful apprenticeship at the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, Adam connected with long-time mentor, Jean-Francois “Jeff” Lehuede. While still working at the Ritz-Carlton, Adam took on a second role at the St Regis Monarch Beach Resort to learn from pastry chef Stéphan Tréand, MOF. After taking the role of Head Pastry Chef at the Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey, Adam was sent to help open other Ritz-Carlton hotels in Abaco Island, Bahamas, and Denver, Colorado. From there, Adam was sent to Enniskerry Ireland to assist with another opening at the Ritz Carlton Powerscourt. Then it was chocolate competitions in Cologne, Germany, and Madrid, Spain and learning chocolate science in T’Hain l’Hermitage, France and Schwyz, Switzerland. Adam went on to Executive Pastry Chef residencies at Capella Singapore, The Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills, and at the longest running 5-star resort in the country, The Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs. It was in Colorado Adam was able to sink his teeth into the baking and pastry program and make it one of the very best in the country. Adam now owns and operates Thomas Craft Confections in Brenham, Texas. In this episode we discuss: How Adam got hooked on pastry His apprenticeship under Pascal Zindel His illustrious, global career with the Ritz-Carlton Why he was drawn to chocolate work The experience of chocolate competitions in Europe Working in Singapore and appreciating desserts with less sugar and fat Engaging with peers on the ‘Untempered’ podcast Adam’s kitchen tips and advice for neophyte pastry cooks And much more! Episode Sponsored by Guittard Chocolate Company We know the level of expertise required to succeed in pastry. At Guittard, our family has been perfecting our craft for five generations. We source premium cacao beans from all over the world to offer a variety of flavor profiles and meet any application need. Now these chocolates are available in an easy to use 3 kilo bag. At Guittard, we focus on the chocolate details so you can focus on your craft. Visit to learn more. /episode/index/show/pastryartsmag/id/28394447

Rebecca Masson: From Parisian Pastry Dreams to Houston's Sweet Success 09/04/2023

Rebecca Masson: From Parisian Pastry Dreams to Houston's Sweet Success You may recognize Rebecca from her appearance on Top Chef: Just Desserts or the standout mention in Southern Living where her Houston-based, sweet tooth haven of a storefront, , was named one of the “South’s Best Bakeries.” The Wyoming native made her first “go big or go home” play back in 1999 when she secured a spot at the famed Le Cordon Bleu school in Paris, and soon after, a coveted internship at the landmark Le Bristol hotel. There, under the tutelage of Pastry Chef Gilles Marchal, she got a taste of Michelin-starred kitchens. After graduating, she worked her way through many famed New York City kitchens, eventually becoming head pastry chef at The Red Cat with Executive Chef Jimmy Bradley. After years of work in the Big Apple, Rebecca pivoted to Texas just as Houston’s culinary scene was starting to heat up. Masson accepted an invitation from Executive Chef Ryan Pera, now chef-owner of Coltivare and Revival Market, to oversee pastry for *17 Restaurant and the Sam Houston Hotel. She quickly generated a cult following in the 713, earning a nickname as the city’s “Sugar Fairy”. My Table Magazine designated her Best Pastry Chef, the first of many local honors, which led to positions with Houston-based and nationally noted chefs and restaurateurs ranging from Charles Clark to Chris Shepherd, as well as a role with HEB Central Market, before stepping out on her own with Fluff Bake Bar in 2011. Masson moved Fluff to its current, larger location in the Heights neighborhood in 2020 and her pastries and confections have received notable coverage in Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Texas Monthly, Houston Chronicle, Culture Map, Saveur and TimeOut, among many others. In this episode we discuss: How Rebecca got hooked on pastry Her experience attending Le Cordon Bleu Staging at Le Bristol in Paris Working for Daniel Boulud in NYC Opening Fluff Bake Bar, using a commissary kitchen Launching the brick-and-mortar Fluff Bake Bar Rebecca’s top kitchen tips and advice for future pastry chefs And much more! Episode Sponsored by Guittard Chocolate Company We know the level of expertise required to succeed in pastry. At Guittard, our family has been perfecting our craft for five generations. We source premium cacao beans from all over the world to offer a variety of flavor profiles and meet any application need. Now these chocolates are available in an easy to use 3 kilo bag. At Guittard, we focus on the chocolate details so you can focus on your craft. Visit to learn more. /episode/index/show/pastryartsmag/id/27923145

Jana Lai: Persevering and Winning at the Top Tier of the French Pastry Scene 08/10/2023

Elaine Boddy: A Conversation with the Sourdough Whisperer 07/17/2023

Nicole Patel: An Award-Winning Chocolatier Talks Shop 06/07/2023

Nicole Patel: An Award-Winning Chocolatier Talks Shop In 2006, while pregnant with her first son, Chef Nicole Patel made a batch of chocolate truffles as last-minute holiday gifts. To the delight of her friends and family, truffle-making became an enjoyable pastime for Nicole that relieved the stress of her corporate engineering job. In 2008, a serendipitous trip to the Texas Wine Country led to Nicole being the first person in Texas to make truffles using local wines. Thanks to her dedication and self-taught skills, Delysia Chocolatier quickly rose to become one of the Best Chocolatiers in the Americas, as recognized by the International Chocolate Salon and Taste TV. Nicole has most recently been named 2023’s Best Chocolatier in the Americas with the highest honor, Six Star Award: Grand Master Chocolatier, an impressive designation she has received a total of ten times. Her most recent accolades comprise over 88 awards in total, among which are 20 gold medals and 22 silver medals. Notably, she has demonstrated unmatched mastery in the Spicy Chocolate, Hot Chocolate, Ruby Chocolate, and White Chocolate competition categories. Nicole now pairs the process efficiency skills from her Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering degrees from Texas A&M University with unbound creativity in the kitchen to keep Delysia successfully moving forward. Nicole never could have imagined how her experience working at a Fortune 100 company as a supply chain, quality, and business process improvement expert would prime her for distributing her own products across the country. Nicole lives in Austin, Texas with her husband Rahul and their two sons, Sébastien and Colin. In this episode we discuss: How Nicole made the transition from a corporate career to chocolatier Juggling her day job with her chocolate business sideline The construction challenges of opening a brick-and-mortar business How she cultivates partnerships with other food artisans The big pivot: promoting virtual chocolate tastings during the pandemic How Nicole develops and maintains her corporate gift giving accounts Nicole’s top tips for cleaning chocolate molds And much more! Episode Sponsored by Dobla - IRCA We know pastry chefs are busy. Ordering from Dobla and IRCA means not having to make everything from scratch, and instead spending time assembling final products for sale. It means getting more products in one place, which cuts down on the time spent browsing catalogs, placing orders and visiting with sales representatives. That means you spend less time focused on the business and more time on the thing you love: creating succulent sweets and savories that will keep your customers coming back for seconds. For more information, visit . /episode/index/show/pastryartsmag/id/27049422

Kelly Nam: A Pastry Superstar Talks About Her Career Trials and Triumphs 05/16/2023

Cedric Barbaret: A Top Pastry Chef and Dessert Entrepreneur Living the Dream in Amish Country 04/03/2023

Cedric Barbaret: A Top Pastry Chef and Dessert Entrepreneur Living the Dream in Amish Country Cedric Barbaret, owner, operator and chef of Bistro Barbaret & Bakery in Lancaster, PA, has over 25 years of professional pastry experience as well as a Master’s Degree in Pastry from Patisserie Chereau in France. His passion for pastry began at Patissrerie Barbaret, his family’s bakery near Lyon, France, where he served his apprenticeship. Chef Barberet’s experience includes a position as Executive Pastry Chef at Donald Trump’s prestigious Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. While working in Palm Beach in 2005, he spent two months creating Donald Trump’s five-foot high, seven-tier Grand Marnier chiffon wedding cake. Barberet has also worked at the Las Vegas M Resort Casino & Spa with Executive Pastry Chef Jean Claude Canestrier. In 2009, Barberet joined the prestigious team at Philadelphia’s Le Bec-Fin as the Executive Pastry Chef and most recently served as the Executive Pastry Chef for Buddakan. Follow Chef Barbaret on Instagram at @cedricbarbaret or the business at @bistrobarbaretandbakery. In this episode we discuss: Cedric’s pastry roots at his family’s patisserie in France His decision to get a Master’s degree in pastry at the age of 18 How he landed in America as a young pastry chef Designing and making Donald and Melania Trump’s wedding cake Opening the luxury M Resort in Las Vegas: hello high volume! His days as Executive Pastry Chef at Le Bec Fin in Philadelphia Winning FoodNetwork’s Chopped Sweets And much more! Episode Sponsored by Puratos Imagine a milk-alike, plant-based chocolate that tastes great and does good. That’s what makes new Belcolade M. Plant Based Cacao-Trace Chocolate so exceptional. Our cocoa beans are carefully selected and fermented to perfection at our post-harvest centers across the globe. The result is a creamy, dairy-free chocolate like no other—and greater income for our cocoa farmers. Take your creations to the next level with Belcolade M. Plant-Based Chocolate. Great Taste, Doing Good. Learn more at /episode/index/show/pastryartsmag/id/26402271

Karen Krasne: A Pastry Chef and Entrepreneur Talks About Her Career of Extraordinary Desserts 03/08/2023

Karen Krasne: A Pastry Chef and Entrepreneur Talks About Her Career of Extraordinary Desserts Karen Krasne is the owner and Executive Pastry Chef of Extraordinary Desserts and the author of Extraordinary Cakes: Recipes for Bold and Sophisticated Desserts, which is in its third printing. Once called the “Queen of Cakes” by Gourmet magazine, Karen brings a fresh and contemporary sensibility to special occasion cakes. What makes her cakes showstoppers are their unexpected flavor combinations and vibrant touches using fresh fruit and real flowers, which add flair without being fussy. Karen’s cakes have graced the cover of Bon Appetit, and Forbes recognized her as one of the country’s ten best pastry chefs. Karen has been featured in The New York Times, Sunset, and The Los Angeles Times, among other national and international publications. Karen is an industry veteran having been in the industry for over 30 years. She studied pastry making at the Cordon Bleu and returns to Paris, France each year to train with the masters at LeNotre and Bellouet Conseil. In this episode we discuss: How Karen first became interested in pastry Her European training Why she decided to start her own business Her signature items at Extraordinary Desserts Her inspiration and process for creating new recipes Karen’s priority of hiring and nurturing women employees Writing her book, Extraordinary Cakes Her thoughts on the latest pastry trends and the next generation of pastry chefs And much more! Episode Sponsored by Dobla - IRCA We know pastry chefs are busy. Ordering from Dobla and IRCA means not having to make everything from scratch, and instead spending time assembling final products for sale. It means getting more products in one place, which cuts down on the time spent browsing catalogs, placing orders and visiting with sales representatives. That means you spend less time focused on the business and more time on the thing you love: creating succulent sweets and savories that will keep your customers coming back for seconds. For more information, visit . /episode/index/show/pastryartsmag/id/26164776

Brad Kintzer: A Chief Chocolate Maker Talks About His Dream Job 02/21/2023

Brad Kintzer: A Chief Chocolate Maker Talks About His Dream Job Brad Kintzer is the Chief Chocolate Maker at TCHO Chocolate, based in Berkeley, California. Prior to joining TCHO, Brad was chocolate maker and product developer at U.S. bean-to-bar chocolate pioneer, Scharffen Berger, acquired by The Hershey Company in 2005. Previous to his 20 years of chocolate making, Brad studied tropical botany and environmental studies at the University of Vermont, and spent months working on cacao plantations throughout Latin America to better understand the origins of chocolate flavor. At TCHO since 2009, Brad and his team are focused on innovating in every aspect of chocolate making; from cocoa genetics, fermentation and roasting, to creating unique and tasty chocolate products for market. Brad volunteers on the board of the Fine Chocolate Industry Association (FCIA) and also the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund (HCP). In this episode we discuss: How Brad’s interest in botany became an obsession with the cacao plant Brad’s first job at a chocolate factory His first job as a chocolate maker at Scharffen Berger in San Francisco Landing a job as Chief Chocolate Maker at TCHO in Berkeley, CA How TCHO partners with cacao farmers to produce better chocolate How TCHO transitioned to 100 percent plant-based Brad’s favorite source for cacao beans His thoughts about eliminating heavy metal contamination in dark chocolate And much, much more! Episode Sponsored by Dobla - IRCA We know pastry chefs are busy. Ordering from Dobla and IRCA means not having to make everything from scratch, and instead spending time assembling final products for sale. It means getting more products in one place, which cuts down on the time spent browsing catalogs, placing orders and visiting with sales representatives. That means you spend less time focused on the business and more time on the thing you love: creating succulent sweets and savories that will keep your customers coming back for seconds. For more information, visit . /episode/index/show/pastryartsmag/id/25990692

Josh Allen: The Business of Bread 02/06/2023

Cheryl Wakerhauser: A Conversation with a Successful Pastry Entrepreneur 01/23/2023

Cheryl Wakerhauser: A Conversation with a Successful Pastry Entrepreneur Pastry chef, entrepreneur and bon vivant, Cheryl Wakerhauser, sees every day as a chance to learn something new and contribute something else. After a short-lived career studying to be an astronaut, Cheryl received a degree in pastry arts from Vancouver’s Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts and then headed straight to Southern France to further train at the prestigious pâtisserie of MOF Philippe URRACA. Her eccentric dessert restaurant, Pix Pâtisserie, was born in Portland, Oregon in 2002, where adventurous guests could enjoy bold flavored sweet treats paired with a Belgian ale late into the night. Bar Vivant was added to the space in 2012, bringing a savory menu of San Sebastián inspired tapas to pair with the ever growing, award-winning beverage selection, showcasing both champagne and sherry wines. The pandemic inspired a new business model – vending. The Pix-O-Matic debuted in 2020 selling the same fine French pâtisserie that was served in the restaurant, but in a 24-hour contactless vending machine. Her techniques, flavor combinations and whimsical design (along with a few parlor tricks!) can be discovered in her acutely instructional cookbooks, Modern French Pastry and Petite Pâtisserie, which have received accolades by France’s two most prestigious professional cooking trade journals, Thuriès Gastonomie and Le Journal du Pâtissier. She also teaches food and wine master classes, where students can learn how to make a croquembouche, perfect their macarons or explore the different styles of sherry wine. In this episode we discuss: How Cheryl first became interested in pastry How she landed an internship with Phillipe Urraca, MOF What it was like to be one of the only women in a French pastry kitchen How she turned her dream of opening a pastry shop into reality The careful crafting of a fun atmosphere at Pix Patisserie Navigating the COVID pandemic and the brainstorm of the Pix-o-Matic How she was able to write two successful cookbooks Cheryl’s secret for making pastry cream in record time and much more! Episode Sponsored by Dobla - IRCA We know pastry chefs are busy. Ordering from Dobla and IRCA means not having to make everything from scratch, and instead spending time assembling final products for sale. It means getting more products in one place, which cuts down on the time spent browsing catalogs, placing orders and visiting with sales representatives. That means you spend less time focused on the business and more time on the thing you love: creating succulent sweets and savories that will keep your customers coming back for seconds. For more information, visit . /episode/index/show/pastryartsmag/id/25670130

Pastry Arts Podcast

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