U.S. Open Cupcakes.

Chocolate cupcakes with buttercream icing and white chocolate 'golf ball' covered with nonpareils. Grass technique needs a little work, but they are really cute. $2.50 each.

Homemade strawberry jam

I made jam! One jar is strawberry/raspberry. The other is straw/rasp with black pepper and balsamic vinegar. i am dying to taste them, but also want to save them like a depression-era housewife. Next I will be washing aluminium foil and reusing coffee grounds, if this trend continues.

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Chouquette mania!

Chouquettes (sugar puffs) for everyone! I have two tastings, and a meeting tomorrow so I made a LARGE recipe. i do think they look like little cabbages.

Ready for shrek 4 in 3D!!

Chocolate mousse cakes with caramel surprise.

Dessert for tonight. nice and light for a hot summer night. soft sponge cake, thin layer of caramel, cookie crisps, topped with airy chocolate mousse and tiny sugar sprinkles.

Parisienne macarons with caramelized white chocolate filling.

Look at those 'Feet'! ( Rise between bottom and top of cookie - sign of good macaron) Take that Laduree.

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It's official.

Chouquette is incorporated.

Regina's Peonies

i love these flowers. they greet me every morning as i run out for more dessert supplies. they are so showy and remind me of my senior prom dress - which might not be a good thing, but i dont hold it against the peonies.

Tasting room. rocking reston town center. woooo.

Newest chocolate concoction before enrobing

Dark chocolate covering caramelized white choc ganache, almond crisp, and popping sugar. i love the combo. once i have five recipes perfected, i will start offering them for sale. need packaging ideas.

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Pleated shorts are IN????

Bringing back memories of high school summers spent on a dock on the severn river listening to songs they play on oldies radio now. oh, 1988, i cant wait to revisit at my 20th reunion next month. now if i can just find my guess jeans with the ankle zipper and my units belt.

New birthday cake

Switched to chocolate buttercream.

My grandmother's 90th birthday cake

Sponge cake, bavarian cream, strawberries, buttercream, with homemade fondant rose and plaque. i hope she likes it. it is similar to a french 'fraisier' cake.

My first paying job - Cupcakes for first communion

All vanilla cake. half with vanilla buttercream. other half chocolate buttercream w blue dots.

New york post home delivery.

How steph stays informed about world events.

True love.

Miller lite night with steph. just need some drunk texts to make the night complete.

Strawberries and sauteed pineapples with my blt for lunch.

Working on my designs for 'Berry Plate' orders.

Jeannie's Rent Payment

Dark chocolate filled with lghtly salted caramel and crunchy cereal pieces. i have eaten all the rejects and left the pretty ones for jeannie and the boys. hopefully they dont like dark choc.

Hairstyles of the lowly pastry assistant.

This is how high and tight i have to style my hair to fit under my toque (kitchen hat). my only break from 3 pm to midnight is when i sneak to the ladies room to fix this do and happily rest my feet while i blog. almost 6. gotta put my smile on for the customers peering in like zoo visitors. miss all of you. day off tomorrow!!!!!!! please call.

Memories of my 'Hood

My favorite blogger - David Lebovitz - just wrote a post about my neighborhood market, Barbes.  I have to iron my uniform and get ready for work, but please read it, and think of me hunting down the cheapest fingerling potatoes and munching on a hot 'brique' after my shopping is done.  I miss Paris.


David Lebovitz's Blog


His recipes are great, I have been making the salted caramels lately, and they are highly appreciated by everyone at Meadow Lane.  His Paris memoir is worth a read, especially before a trip to France.

Mon nouveau chapeau. (my new hat)

Of course i got chocolate on my new work hat before i even put it on my head. also i forget i have it on and bump into shelves with it. i think it is very sexy. especially with my sweaty head inside. dont be jealous -- I just made chocolate covered grapes.

amy hackett is a very bad influence.

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Hello washington dc.

Just a little something from paris.

Homeward bound.

Au revoir for now

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while, I have had guests and exams and graduation to celebrate.  Off to Berlin tonight, then Prague, Vienna, and Venice.  I have been taking notes and photos, so I will have lots of interesting things to share.


I have some photos from the sugar exam on facebook, here is the link for those of you who haven't seen them yet.  The sugar oranges are mine.  I have some good stories to tell about those days of hell, trust me!


Back in the US on April 7.   And MIGHT have an interview at my dream restaurant.