Chef Rochelle Cooper

On this episode of The Truth in This Art, I welcome 2024 RAMW Pastry Chef of the Year, Rochelle Cooper, from The Duck and The Peach, La Collina, and more. We start with her story, looking at her early kitchen memories and the moments that made her want to work in pastry after culinary school. Then, we talk about how she creates, discussing how memories and childhood flavors inspire her desserts. Next, we look at her daily life, balancing being a busy chef with being a new mom. After that, we discuss how her desserts look, examining food photography and how social media shows off her work. We also talk about working with a team, discussing what makes a good pastry team and how working together helps her create. Finally, we celebrate her award, reflecting on her RAMW Pastry Chef of the Year award and what it means during a tough time for restaurants, with rising ingredient costs.