My love of baking started early in my childhood, always by my Momma's and Granny's side. Whether I was at Granny and Pappa's farm or at home with Momma, the second the flour came out, I was pushing a chair over and climbing up with excitement to see what delicious treat they would make. To this day, when I run my hand through the flour dusting the table, it takes me right back to Momma and Granny doing the same thing. I am so thankful my Momma and Granny encouraged my excitement for baking. They where my first true Master Chefs! Though they didn't have formal training, they knew the secret to making exceptional food and they taught it to me.... "When done from the heart you are not only feeding the body but, you are also feeding the soul"!

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As I grew older, I explored a number of careers, from being a carpenter to now a pastry chef, and everything in between. I found I was always drawn back to the baker's table. I loved how I could bring joy through the creative art of food making. Eventually, I left my safety net and the fear of failure. I knew there was only one Master Chef I wanted to learn from, and his name was Chef Bo Friberg.

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I wrote an essay to compete to get into his program. He was accepting a small number of students, and I was praying I would be one of them. It was a stressful process—completing the application, writing an essay, doing a phone interview, and then, if you made it through all of that, a trip to California to meet with Chef Bo for a one-on-one face-to-face interview. I count myself so blessed to have learned, explored, and thrived under Master Chef Bo's teachings and leadership. His belief in me gave me the courage to not only explore without the fear of failure but to celebrate the knowledge gained when those failures happen.

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Though Chef Bo is no longer with us, I carry his legacy with me every time I am at the baker's bench. I see food as a way to bring people together, where commonality can be found and memories made. So, please join me for the love of baking. Enjoy!

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Chef Stacey Sasser