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This week, we announced the names of the finalists competing in the AUI Pastry Cup. We can’t wait to welcome these 12 talented pastry chefs to AUI headquarters for 2 days of fierce competition in September. To get to know them better, we asked our competitors about their favorite desserts to make for guests—and about their personal favorite desserts to eat! Meet the competitors below and follow along on Facebookand Instagramas we gear up for the competition on September 18th and 19th!
Alina Muratova
As the Executive Pastry Chef at the Washington State Convention Center, Chef Alina brings a touch of elegance to a huge volume of pastry creations. She says that lately her favorite thing to create is laminated doughs because she finds the process “almost meditative,” and her favorite dessert is anything with chocolate. “It plays well with so many ingredients; you can never get bored of chocolate!” We could not agree more. IG: muralina22
Benjamin Copeland
Chef Benjamin enjoys fun in the sun as the Executive Pastry Chef at Gasparilla Inn and Club in Boca Grande, Florida. He says his favorite thing to make right now is bread. “Does bread count as a dessert? It should because it’s delicious.” As for his favorite thing to eat, he says he can’t resist a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie. “One that is still slightly warm so the center is still kinda gooey but it’s starting to cool some so the edges are slightly crispy. Fantastic.” IG: _bcopeland
Brianne Maggiore
Chef Brianne has been with the Four Seasons Scottsdale for over 10 years, but in all that time, her favorite dessert to create has never changed: “Favorite dessert to make has always been cheesecake!” When it’s time for her to eat dessert though, the choice is not as clear. “Either warm chocolate chip cookies, ice cream, or chocolate cake…it’s so hard to decide!!!” Clearly, Chef Brianne knows it’s the simple treats that make the biggest impact. IG: bmaggiore3 
Steven Cheung
Chef Steven creates mini masterpieces en masse as the Executive Pastry Chef for Global Gourmet Catering in San Francisco. He says his favorite dessert to make is a simple French canelé, but his favorite dessert to eat is a bit more decadent: “Dark chocolate ice cream.” Can we put the dark chocolate ice cream on top of the canelé and call it a day? IG: spoons_patisserie
Ryan Westover
As an instructor at Stratford University in Falls Church, Virginia, Chef Ryan has been passing his pastry wisdom on to the next generation of chefs. A former pastry chef and chocolatier at some of Washington, D.C.'s top restaurants, Chef Ryan’s favorite dessert to make AND eat is actually not chocolate. “Cherry pie in any form.” Truly, a man of simple tastes. IG: rwestover11
Erin Reed
Returning to the Pastry Cup for a second year in a row, Chef Erin has worked as a pastry chef for some of the biggest restaurant names on the East Coast and is currently the Pastry Chef at Blue Duck Tavern in Washington, D.C. She says her favorite thing to create is ice cream. “Playing around with different flavors, textures, and mix-ins is sort of like having a composed dish all in one bite.” As for her favorite dessert to eat, Chef Erin throws a curve ball: “…a simply made fruit crisp with an oat streusel topping. Preferably served cold.” We'll have to try it! IG: niredeer
Curtis Cameron
As Executive Pastry Chef at Las Alcobas Napa Valley, Chef Curtis has access to some of the country’s finest ingredients right outside his kitchen. His favorite thing to make is “…anything new and technically challenging.” We can’t wait to see what kind of new and exciting techniques Chef Curtis will bring to the competition! His favorite thing to eat, on the other hand, is a simple popsicle or fruit sorbet. IG: chefcurtiscameron
Leen Kim
Chef Leen was preparing for a career in business management when she came to the realization that she wasn’t following her bliss. After working in some of the country’s best pastry kitchens, she’s now the Executive Pastry Chef of the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia. Chef Leen says she loves to create chocolate bon bons. “To me, it requires delicacy, accuracy, patience, and perfection to make the best chocolate bon bons.” As for her favorite dessert to eat, she loves the marriage of coffee and chocolate in Tiramisu. “…I love and appreciate when it has the perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness.” IG: leenkim05
Heather Lakey
Chef Heather is Pastry Chef de Partie at the Four Seasons Westlake Village in California, where she loves designing desserts with wine pairings in mind. Her favorite dessert to eat is ice cream, saying that it takes her back to childhood. “My dad always made homemade ice cream for family events and it takes me back to…when I started experimenting with desserts.”
Kaity Mitchell
As chocolatier and pastry cook at Gotham Bar and Grill in New York City, Chef Kaity finds true bliss in creating chocolate bon bons. “There is just something that is so satisfying when the bon bons fall out of the mold with a beautiful shine.” When it comes to her favorite dessert to eat, though, she goes back to her roots in Texas. “I grew up in Central Texas, where there were practically pecan trees in my back yard, and a delicious pecan pie always makes me feel like I’m back home.” What a comforting (and delicious!) thought. IG: kaity_mitchell21
Kévin Clemenceau
Chef Kevin has worked in hotels and boulangeries across France for years, but now he finds himself at the Pitchoun Bakery and Café in Los Angeles. A classic éclair is his favorite dessert to make. “I love how you can twist flavor, texture, and decoration from one of the easiest shapes.” As for his favorite dessert to eat, he picks another French classic: Strawberry Frasier. IG: kevin.clemenceau
Guillermo Magaña
This is Chef Guillermo’s second straight year as a competitor in the AUI Pastry Cup, and we can’t wait to see what he’ll cook up this time! Currently the Pastry Chef at the Country Club at DC Ranch in Arizona, Chef Guillermo also has a background in cake decorating. The artistry of cake decorating is no match for his love of the science of bread baking, which is his favorite thing to create in the kitchen. And, instead of a big slice of cake, he’d much prefer a big scoop of ice cream, which he says is “definitely” his favorite thing to eat. IG: guillermomaganajr
We can’t wait to see what these competitors will create at the AUI Pastry Cup in September. Best of luck to all of them! If you've got a question about the AUI Pastry Cup, shoot us an email at PastryTeam@auifinefoods.com. See you in September!