madeleines.ca
about.
I am a pastry chef.
I grew up in rural Ontario; surrounded by small farms in a lakeside oasis where fresh and local produce was readily available. I won my first pie baking contest at the age of 6 and have been baking ever since.
My formal culinary training occurred at Algonquin College in Ottawa in the early '90s while I was completing my bachelor’s degree from the University of Ottawa. In truth; I went to cooking school because my mother and grandmother before her worked in kitchens and were great cooks, and during university, I realized that I hadn't paid as much attention to them as I should have. I wasn't a very good cook. I could bake....but not cook. Combining Culinary Management with an Arts Degree is an excellent well-rounded education and has provided me with many opportunities.
In 2004 I left my job as a flight attendant and opened a pastry shop and café; Madeleines Cherry Pie and Ice Cream, in Toronto. Madeleines’ was the perfect platform to share my passion for tradition, using only local and sustainable ingredients. I realized that there were a lot of people like me who wanted familiar recipes and real food so I brought my mom and my brother onboard and together we built the Madeleines.ca brand.
Drawing on my experience working in cafes and restaurants and bringing in apprentices from around the world, in 2012 we expanded the operation and opened a bespoke wholesale production kitchen catering to fine food retailers, grocers, cafes and restaurants. The acumen I acquired as a business leader is entrenched in my passion for pastry as a craft. Success comes from understanding that the combination of art and science in baking is really a microcosm of all things.
This led to a role as a resident guest teacher at George Brown College School of Continuing Education and has given me the chance to enable others to follow their dreams.
Over the years my passion and business have attracted the attention of local and national media with an abundance of press. Most memorable was the recurring spot as the in-house pastry expert on CBC's Steven and Chris where I shared seasonal recipes, and tips and tricks for home baking.
This has led me to my dream job.....
I AM THE NEW JUDGE ON THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW {Season 3 commences on Wednesday, September 18, 2019, at 8 pm on CBC}
Together with Pastry Chef Bruno Feldeisen, and the amazing and talented hosts; Aurora Browne and Carolyn Taylor we share the tent with 10 top home bakers vying for the coveted trophy and challenging themselves to bake the perfect dessert!
I just relocated to London, England, where I am researching the local farm ingredients to continue to study the chemistry of baking. Visiting bakeshops throughout the EUEA is going to be the best part of my research. My task is clear; find and preserve the origins of Canadian-European recipes and baking methods, while seeking out innovations and trends in the baking industry. Follow my culinary travel journal where I will chronicle my discoveries, recipes, and adventures.