We value your business and always strive to provide the best service to our customers. During the holiday season we recognize that you are busy planning and preparing for many events and parties, and concentrating on providing the best possible service to your customers. To assist you in this process we would like to remind you of some of the practices that allow us to serve you better. Please keep the following information in mind when placing orders online or with our customer service team. Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to working with you this holiday season.

AUI Corporate Pastry Chef Amanda Haba trained for months to compete at the 2011 National Pastry Team Championship, and on July 9^th all her preparations paid off. Chef Haba earned the “Best Sugar Showpiece” award while competing on Team Gallego, which took the silver medal overall. Amanda's teammates on Team Gallego were former AUI assistant pastry chef Courtney Goldian (currently the Corporate Pastry Chef at Founding Farmers Restaurant in Washington, D.C.) and Executive Pastry Chef Naomi Gallego (Team Captain) of the Fairmont Pittsburgh; the team was coached by Chef Bill Foltz of L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort.

Last week’s Taste of the Caribbean competition was only the second time Chef Kunal Chakrabarti competed at the event, and once again he brought home several awards for The Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas. Chef Chakrabarti earned the Pastry Chef of the Year award (sponsored by AUI) as well as the gold medal for the Individual Pastry Competition. In addition to winning two medals at the competition, he was also inducted into the Taste of the Caribbean Hall of Fame. Last year, Chef Chakrabarti earned a perfect score on his dessert, as well as taking the “Best Use of Chocolate” award at the competition.

DESSERT PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES

THE TOP TEN PASTRY CHEFS IN AMERICA

At the 18th Annual Awards Ceremony

On Monday, June 6th at The Institute For Culinary Education

New York, NY, March, 2011 -- Dessert Professional magazine, the nation's leading publication of the pastry, ice cream and chocolate industries, will name the top toques of tuile, cocoa and sugar at a ceremony on Monday, June 6 at The Institute for Culinary Education in New York. As dessert professionals have taken their rightful place as culinary luminaries, the magazine that leads the industry will honor those individuals who lead the pastry pack.

This year is only the second time that an all female team has competed at the National Pastry Team Championship. We are proud to be a sponsor of the team, especially because our Corporate Pastry Chef Amanda Haba is a member of the team! In addition to Chef Amanda, our former Assistant Corporate Pastry Chef (and current Willard InterContinental Pastry Chef) Courtney Goldian will be participating with Fairmont Pittsburgh Executive Pastry Chef Naomi Gallego as the team captain. Chef Bill Foltz of L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort is coaching the team, Chef Foltz brought home "Best Sugar" for Team USA at the 2011 “Coupe de Monde de la Patisserie” in Lyon, France.