Spring 2012 Newsletter – from the Chicago School of Mold Making. Inside you’ll find:
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Spring 2012 Newsletter
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
The Art of Pastry – Stéphane Tréand MOF
May 2012 Pastry Postcard
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Stéphane Tréand MOF has opened his top-of-the-line pastry school in beautiful San Clemente, California. Not only are the classes taught by Chef Treand, he has enlisted pastry champions Patrice Caillot, Vincent Pilon, & Frederic Monti to share their knowledge. See for yourself in the photos of the opening event. Everything is world-class, visit the Art of Pastry and learn from the best!
To celebrate the opening of their new showroom, Qzina had their corporate pastry chef Francois Mellet and Stephane Treand MOF make a Mayan Temple made out of 9 tons of chocolate. Visit this link for the record breaking showpiece.
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May 2012 Showcase
Monday, April 30, 2012
Easter Inspiration
As that special day when we honor the wonderful women in our lives is fast approaching (May 13th), we though breaking the rules and presenting an amazing chocolate Easter Egg might inspire your own creations.
We are proud to present this lovely piece by Assistant Pastry Chef Oralia Perez, of the Ritz-Carlton Resort Naples. Great use of cast, modeled and piped chocolate. Hoping this lively spring bouquet will set your ideas sprouting. (click for a larger image)
Great Work Chef Oralia Perez!
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April 2012 Showcase
Monday, April 2, 2012
Executive Pastry Chef Franck Iglesias of the Foxwoods Resort Casino created this Chocolate Showpiece for the 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner of the owners of the resort, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. The event was to be celebrated with Native American dances and other traditional commemorations. Chef wanted to pay homage to the tribe and other beliefs important to the Pequot nation. The Mashantucket Pequots are a native Algonquin people in Southeastern Connecticut known for their “Pequot spirit of survival”. The show piece took around 80 collective hours to make, here’ s Chef Iglesias description:
“The Pequot was a warrior nation represented by topping the showpiece with the Spring Leaves Showpeel. Red was the main color of the warrior. The arrows are also part of the Mashantucket Pequot homage. The “tree of life” coming from the ground (earth) was chocolate hand sculpted. The “S” part coming out of the tree trunk was made with the Silicone Noodles. I wanted something more elegant to make the piece “lighter”, but with the effect of being “one” part, almost like an elegant silhouette coming out of a tree trunk. The chocolate rocks, flowers and leaves was also important to the theme as nature is a way of life for the Native American culture.” (click for a larger image)
You interpreted the Spirit beautifully, Thank you Chef Iglesias!
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News Flash
Monday, March 26, 2012
Watch the final episode of the Chicago Restaurant Pastry Competition
Webisode 1: Meet The Competitors
The day we have been waiting for has arrived! Share the excitement when Chicago’s best pastry talents; Meg Galus, Greg Mosko, Jove Hubbard and Sarah Kosikowski compete in the Chicago Restaurant Pastry Competition.
Webisode 2: Creating The Amuse
In this webisode, our contestants; Meg Galus of NoMI Kitchen, Greg Mosko of North Pond, Jove Hubbard of The James Hotel and Sarah Kosikowski of Sixteen at Trump Tower must use the mystery box to prepare their Amuse (one-bite taster). With limited time and over 20 ingredients and tools to choose from, tensions run high.
Webisode 3: Presenting the Desserts
If you’ve been following the previous webisode, you’ve witnessed the daunting mystery box, seen the presentations of the Amuse, now follow our contestants as they construct very different and mouthwatering desserts.
Webisode 4: Judges & Winners
The webisode you’ve all been waiting for, the judges critique the desserts and the winners are revealed.
For more great coverage of the story, please visit our media partners in Italy
(click on the image) 
Bitter Jester Creative was Awarded 2 Communicator Awards for these Videos.
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For the Love of Chocolate 2012 – March Pastry Postcard
Thursday, March 15, 2012
This year’s black tie event raised scholarship funds for The French Pastry School. Taking up the entire first floor of the Merchandise Mart, there was lots to enjoy. The evenings collective highlight, was the fashion show featuring local pastry chefs and their confectionery clad models. Join the party by visiting Pastry Postcards-For the Love of Chocolate 2012 for photos from the event.
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Pastry Live Aug 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Come make history.
Be part of the action with Pastry Live’s audience awards and chocolate tastings in which you get to vote. And the Showpieces, they are like nothing you’ve ever seen before.
Come learn, be inspired and make some new friends; your old ones are already here.
August 3, 4, 5, 2012
Save the date and see you in Atlanta!
(Click on image for a larger view)
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March 2012 Showcase
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Andreas Schwarzer, Baking and Pastry Arts Instructor at School of Hospitality and Tourism at SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary, designed this piece for their “Elegant Showpiece” section. The flowers and some flourishes are made from pastillage, the rest of the showpiece is made of pulled and cast sugar using a variety of silicone molds (the main piece is cast with silicone noodles).
This showpiece is used as the new guideline when it comes to students and their shop objectives. Lucky students and the employers who hire them!
Thanks for thinking out of the box Chef Schwarzer, we especially like the ‘floating’ effect. (click on the photo for a bigger image)
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Announcing 2012 Mold Making Class Dates
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Mark your Calendars!
March 26, Monday- 9am-5pm
March 27, Tuesday- 9am-5pm
March 28, Wednesday- 8am-2pm
May 21, Monday- 9am-5pm
May 22, Tuesday- 9am-5pm
May 23, Wednesday- 8am-2pm
July 9, Monday- 9am-5pm
July 10, Tuesday- 9am-5pm
July 11, Wednesday- 8am-2pm
While we can’t compress all of Michael’s skill and 20 years experience into three days, you will leave with a solid understanding, invaluable information and all of the molds you make in class.
For more details and discounted room rates visit our Classes page or call us at 708-660-9707.
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Pastry Queen 2012 – February Pastry Postcard
Friday, February 17, 2012
At a new competition held at the Sigep exhibition in Rimini, Italy, Sonia Balacchi was awarded the title of Pastry Queen 2012. Kyun Ran Baccon representing France, won second, and Susan Notter of the United States, placed third. Great work ladies!
Visit Pastry Postcards-Pastry Queen 2012 for photos from the event.
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