Short Order Just Desserts — Our Nominees Are…

With Top Chef Just Desserts hitting the airwaves there is no doubt that satisfying a sweet tooth is the hot thing to do for cooler months ahead. So we reached out to our Short Order Best Pastry Chef Nominees to get the 411 on who they are and their favorite fall dessert. Drum roll….

Chefs are listed alphabetically

Name: Hedy Goldsmith

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Profession: Executive Pastry Chef at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink

Culinary Education: Culinary Institute of America

Favorite simple fall recipe: Gingersnap cookies

Personal motto: “work smarter, not harder”

Name: Julien Philippe

Hometown: Paris, France

Profession: Pastry Chef for Roka and Zuma Restaurants

Culinary Education: BTS (Brevet Technique Superieur) and Hotellerie Restauration

Favorite simple fall recipe: Almond, Fig and Umeshu Toban

Personal motto: “keep it simple”

Name: Malka Espinel

Hometown:Miami

Profession: Pastry Chef at The Forge

Culinary Education: Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago (Culinary Degree), FIU (Masters in Hospitality Management)

Favorite simple fall recipe: Honey cake with goat milk fromage blanc, cream and oven roasted figs

Personal motto: “focus on flavor and keep it simple”

Name: Olivier Rodriguez

Hometown: Annecy, France

Profession: Executive Pastry Chef at Palm D’Or

Culinary Education: C.A.P – 4-year degree

Favorite simple fall recipe: Mont Blanc (meringue with chestnut and rum cream, vanilla ice cream)

Personal motto: “Be always positive, don’t focus on the problem but on the solutions..”

Name: Vanessa Paz
Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Profession: Executive Pastry Chef, Michy’s

Culinary Education: Degree in baking and pastry from Johnson & Wales

Favorite simple fall recipe: Deep fried apple pie with vanilla toffee ice cream and apple cider caramel

Personal motto: ” keep it simple and delicious and you can’t go wrong.”

So who has your vote??