The blog was started for a few very simple reasons...
I love to write, and once a long time ago I actually wanted to be a writer. My mom had the greater sense to talk me out of a very difficult and not always financially rewarding career, encouraging me to pursue something different. Little did she know I'd end up the the food business, which - for those of you who've been there - it's probably as equally rewarding monetarily as a struggling writer! Ha!
But I love what I do, it's truly become my passion and I can't think of a better way to share that passion with everyone than bringing my stories and pictures to life.
In case you are wondering about the name "Pastries Not Potatoes" - when I was a baking and pastry student at The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago I had a chef instructor tell the class one day, "It's a pastry, not potato. Treat it as such." Which, in the simplest of contexts is nothing but truth. Potatoes, for all of their applications, are pretty tough vegetables. You can mash them, mix them, and pretty much beat the crap out of them and, for the most part - they retain their integrity. A pastry, or any dessert for that matter - not so much so. Anyone who has ever over whipped cream and turned it to butter or kneaded bread dough for too long and ended up with a hockey puck can attest to that.
So, this is my blog. Please feel free to browse and comment...I always love hearing from anyone about anything. And, pass this along to your friends...The more that read, the better!
Sweets!
Melissa Humphrey
Chef Owner, Pastries Not Potatoes
