HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009!!!

Girls, let's make a conscious effort to keep this blog alive. I recently visited and each posting made me smile. I LOVE keeping in touch with you and learning what you are all up to. I know we've come a long way since we've graduated, and I am so very proud of all of us. Chez Panisse, Zuni, Kara's Cupcakes, Amy's Breads - we've made it girls! How many people in our class can say they had such a solid group of friends and peers??? I was so fortunate to stage with Patricia and Megan before I left for Chicago. I know Hot Chocolate didn't work out, but I'm looking for my next challenge and adventure. Some pictures from 2008...

Syl, Megan, & Haley outside Bocadillos for tapas, then...

Rubicon for dessert (Honey Cake w/ Blue Cheese (right???)
Farallon's Famous Summer Berry Pudding














Michael Mina's Dessert Trio & Chocolate Cake

Haley & I enjoying Zuni's famous Chicken for Two

Slow Food, SF 2008















Persimmon Cake on a pillow of baking spices @ Alinea, Chicago

What a pastry chef wants for her wedding cake...

Thought you girls might enjoy this pic ;) Love & miss you all! Does anyone else think its time for another e-mail chain?!

Chicago Bound!

I can't believe I'm leaving! Please please come to Chicago and visit me at Hot Chocolate. I'll be slaving away (in a good way, I hope) in the kitchen most of the time! Here are some pictures from my recent stage. It was an event for the documentary "Louder Than a Bomb" showing at the Sundance Film Festival - by John Siskel (nephew to the famous Siskel & Egbert) - highlighting inner city kids & poetry. Also, some pictures of the desserts.

Chez Panisse

Patricia was gracious enough to host us last week at Chez Panisse. It was so awesome to see where Patricia worked and get a tour of the kitchen. We even got to see Alice Waters. She was dining with someone, so we didn't bother her. The food was amazing, and so was the dessert! The server didn't think that we would want additional dessert, but of course we did! Such imaginative flavors, colors, WOW!

Christmas in July!

Hey Ladies! Emily Luchetti did a TV show called "The Holiday Table", which is now coming out with a cookbook. They needed someone to make Christmas cookies and that person ended up being me. Check them out!

Mexico Dulce

I just got back from spending a week in Mexico, so here are pictures of my delicious encounters.

This is a picture of me with a guava popsicle. To make the popsicles, they use whole crushed fruit instead of just juice. When I'd eat them, I'd get chunks of fruit and even seeds.

This is the menu board at the ice cream shop. It shows all the different flavors.

These are the donuts that they were selling on the beach. They were melting in the sun.

This was some delicious rice pudding that I bought from a stand on the street.

Patricia sent me this amazing cake photo

She did it for Ale... Megan congratulations on the website. Idea and the music and all is just great. First step of your own bakery :) I miss you all very much and hope to see you soon. And there is a collection of the breads I did for the Istanbul Culinary School bakery shop to be sold there...