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My name is Melissa Humphrey and I'm a Pastry Chef in the greatest city in the world, Chicago! This town loves it's food, and I love being able to bring it to the masses. Whether it's a friend who's simply ordered a few dozen cookies from me, catering to 1000 people for a Yelp event, or creating the ultimate wedding cake for a Wrigleyville Rooftop wedding - I'm just here for the food.
This is my blog. Alot about food, even more about how I feel about that food and who I'm serving it to. I've been in the food business for nearly fourteen years and I love what I do. It's not just my job, it's my passion. So read on - I like to tell stories and I love to share them even more!
After all - Life is short. Eat dessert first!
Sweets!
Melissa

 

Pastries Not Potatoes

 

Some of our clients include : Plan B Advertising Agency, Todd T Designs, American Society for Clinical Pathology, The Chicago Academy for the Arts, and Big Monster Toys.

 

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Friday
19Jun

Me Don't Want Coookiee.

Is nothing safe anymore?

In a world plagued by constant global warming, the threat of nuclear war, rising unemployment, and sometimes the feeling that the apocalypse is right around the corner there are not many things that we can indulge in anymore without being told it may kill us.

Smoking is bad.  Drinking is bad.  Meat is bad.  If you're Jeremy Piven...too much sushi is an apparent death sentence.

But now THIS. What are 13 year told tweens going to eat at slumber parties now?  Or the thirty something year old woman who's been dumped. Again. 

It's extremely unfortunate that in a society that is so technologically and scientifically advanced, we are still finding a way to wreak havoc on own on immune systems with things that should be "safe" even before we get them home from the grocery and store them in our chill chests.

With the way I've seen food treated over the last sixteen years (both in professional, and home kitchens) you'd think that the FDA would recall some peoples ability to cook at all.  Unfortunately, this is not something that can be regulated.  It is just not okay to leave potato salad in the sun at a picnic for eight hours. That is, unless you are trying to kill your Uncle Joe. 

The growing popularity of cooking shows, celebrity chefs, food competitions and culinary schools is amazing.  I can't think of anything better than people learning about food, how it works, why it's essential to not only our ultimate survival, but the impact it plays on employment and the economy as well.  However, it is equally important that with all the fun times being had in kitchens across America; people realize that sometimes what you cook and how you eat it really can kill you.

 

Sweets!
Melissa

Tuesday
09Jun

A Man Among Men.

In a roundabout sort of way, one of my former bosses passed away this week.

Norman Brinker, chairman of Brinker International, a Dallas based restaurant group, lost his life today at the age of 78.

He was an innovator in the restaurant industry, and his legacy will continue on with the numerous companies that will continue to prosper in his absence.

Monday
08Jun

Allez Cuisine!!!

The secret ingredient? Citrus Fruits.

The judges? The folks over at Chicago Bites.

Chicago's first ever Iron:Cupcake challenge took place on June 1 sponsored by Beautiful Cakes and Veranda; and Pastries Not Potatoes was one of over a dozen competitors with entries in the challenge.

This unique and exciting opportunity to showcase specialty cupcakes brought together both amatuer and professional bakers; and gave the public a chance to sample cupcakes. For free!!! Our offerings for June's compitition were Coconut Key Lime Pie Cupcakes and Grapefruit Ginger Cupcakes.  While PNP didn't place in the Citrus competition, it was so cool to see all of the different flavor combinations that Chicago bakers came up with. The winning cupcake? A grapefruit cupcake with avocado frosting!

Iron:Cupcake was such a hit that it will be repeated once a month, with the secret flavor ingredient changing with each challenge. The next challenge will take place on July 6, and the secret ingredient has already been revealed to be tropical fruits. Pastries Not Potatoes is gearing up for the next event, and we hope to see you there!

 

Sweets!
Melissa

Sunday
07Jun

With This Ring...

 

When you've found the person that you love, you will do anything for them. Anything. Even if that means getting married on a Wrigleyville Rooftop during a Cubs game.  Whose idea was this? The grooms? Nope. The brides!

A few weeks ago I catered PNP's first wedding during baseball season on a rooftop; and it was a fantastic experience.

Bypassing any traditional wedding experience - like a white dress (the bride wore red!) or a three tier white wedding cake (the guests ate baseball cupcakes!) or traditional vows (To love, honor and cherish to death do us part, or until the Cubs win the World Series!). 

It just goes to show, that it doesn't matter the time or the place...as long as you're with the one you love - anything is possible.

Monday
18May

Full Circle

Every weekend this month PNP has a new client booked...which is amazing!  Thanks to my friends at Yelp I'm busier than ever!

Two weeks ago I had the priveledge of making the most adorable cupcakes for a baby shower only  to follow up that order the following week with a very special order for the Chicago Academy of the Arts!  Celebrating their 2009 prom with the theme of "A Night Under the Stars" I created 120 star cookies decorated in shiny silver and gold.  They came out fantastic, and everyone was extremely impressed!   How amazing is it that the week started celebrating the birth of a child, and ended celebrating the graduation of someone else?

In a few weeks I am the pastry caterer to a wedding that's happening on a Wrigleyville rooftop!  I'm super excited, as this will be my first official wedding, and it's the first of many for me this year!

Stay tuned for alot more!  I'm busy baking, but I'm not far away!

Sweets!
Melissa