L'Art du Gateau

I'm back! I haven't updated my blog in a while because I haven't had any pictures to share, until this week. I started the Cake Program the first week in January and let me tell you, it is a lot different then the Pastry Program. It is a lot more quiet and definitely weird not having my classmates from the pastry program with me. Don't get me wrong, I still like the cake program and the class I have now; but I miss having the class that I had before. I couldn't imagine not doing the pastry program first and not seeing those people every day at 6:45 in the morning.

Anyways, here is what we have been working on the past two weeks. All of these cakes are fake, just so that we can practice decorating. I could not imagine bringing home all of those cakes if they were real. To decorate a real cake, it would pretty much be the same way.

 Tiffany's Box Cake

Vintage Travel Makeup Case 

Baby Shower Cake

(Added a special touch for my cousin Heather who is pregnant! Cannot wait to meet baby Musolino!)

Brush Embroidery

Peony
(Made out of gumpaste)

Graduation

I know that it has been three weeks since I graduated from the Pastry Program, but I wanted to share with you some of the pictures from graduation. The Pastry Program was by far the best experience I have ever had. I met some amazing people from all around the country and event he world along the way. I have also been taught by the most amazing chefs. Each one has their own special way of teaching us, and I know that no matter what I can go to any one of them for help! Some of them, I do not know where I would be without their guidance and advice. The are great chefs, great teachers, and have an amazing sense of humor. No matter who is teaching us, there is always something that is said that is turned into a joke!

I do not know where I would be without my parents. I am so thankful for them and their support.

Chef Sunny Lee; although I only had her for buffet/last week, I will have her in the Cake Program. I cannot wait to learn more from her.

Chef Joel Reno; our class had him for sugar candies, ice cream, sugar sculpture, and entremet(cake) class. He has taught me how to dive deeper into the pastry field and to pay attention to all the detail, more than I have before. While teaching me to dive deeper into the pastry field, he has taught me to be more creative especially when it comes to pairing different pairings together! And, most importantly to work faster.

Chef Megan McCarthy; we had her for our wedding cake module. She has helped me so much the past six months and has pushed me to do better than my best; and when I was hard on myself because I couldn't get something, she was there to help. She is the one who pushed me to enter the Pastry Chicago Brownie Competition and because of her pushing me even though it was a last minute thing, I won 4th place!

Chef Jonathan Dendauw; we had him for breads and breakfast pastries, and petite fours class. There is so much that I have learned from him. I have always loved bread, but I never knew that I would love making it so much. I do not know where I would be without his advice and guidance throughout the whole program. I cannot wait to take the Bread Program in June!

Chef Patrice Caillot; we had him for basics class and tarts. Just like Chef Jonathan, I would go to him for advice for anything. When I was going through the decision making process on whether or not to apply for the internship or the cake program, he made me feel at ease and helped me weigh the pros and cons of each one. Obviously, there are not that many cons for either one. He just told me that I need to think about each one, but not to put too much pressure on myself.

Chef Jonathan and Chef Patrice are the best team! No matter who we have in class, the other is always coming to visit. I can not wait to learn more from  Chef Patrice in the Cake Program and Chef Jonathan in the Bread Program

Chef Jacquy and Chef Sebastien are the co-founders of the school! Our class had them for chocolate showpiece class.

Stream 2 is the best class!