July 22nd, 2011 | 71 Comments
A few months ago, reader Mika sent me an email asking if I could recreate a dessert that knocked her socks off at a restaurant in her home town. She wanted to be able to make it whenever the craving hit. And let’s face it, when it comes to chocolate, that could be any time [...]
December 9th, 2010 | 27 Comments
Long before I had any pastry under my belt (literally and figuratively), I was invited to a Christmas dinner. I brought along my offering, and announced that they were truffles! Truffles, oh great people of the party! Truffles! And yes, I had made them myself! The hostess perked up, understandably so, because how often do [...]
December 22nd, 2009 | 25 Comments
Gluttony. It’s my favorite of the deadly sins and I’m good at partaking in it. And it doesn’t get more rampant than in the month of December. Seems like the second I leave the apartment, I’m offered barrels of cakes and bushels of cookies. Candy to the left of me. Chocolate to the right. I’m [...]
November 19th, 2009 | 77 Comments
If you promise them chocolate cake, you better make sure they get it. Or there will be bedlam. I learned first hand. We ran out during one busy dinner service and there was so much uproar, the kitchen transformed into an urban Lord of the Flies. These cakes were more than just popular. People traveled [...]
I had a career going in advertising when one day I got the crazy idea to start over and become a pastry chef. Now I'll show you what I learned working in fine dining restaurants all over NYC right here with step-by-step photos. So grab your rolling pin and join in.
