The School of Pastry Design Opens In Las Vegas

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Jan 11th 2011 at 6:01AM

Ever dream of emulating the incredible pastry designs you see on the Food Network? The School of Pastry Design in Las Vegas is the vision of Chris Hanmer, the youngest world pastry team champion ever and former Executive Pastry Chef at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas. The new hands-on experience will allow anyone to work alongside a world champion pastry chef to create colorful, edible, life-size pastry or chocolate art. The school is designed to appeal to a variety of skill levels offering continuing education for pastry chefs, with some class offerings specifically set up to help the pastry industry professional achieve new levels of proficiency. You can also schedule a customized private or small group session while you are in Las Vegas. Classes start at $400. For the more casual pastry experience, Hamner offers chocolate tastings, chocolate parties, creative cooking competitions for parties and showers, a unique "chocolate lab oratory," and light-hearted pastry classes for groups.

Hanmer is the creator of "flexible chocolate," a technique he invented while in the midst of a Food Network Challenge. The technique and recipe for the flexible chocolate will be described in an upcoming book and flexible chocolate will also be featured in upcoming chocolate classes.

"You have to see this place to believe it," says Chris Hanmer. "It's amazing to think that the dream kitchens of food competition TV shows now have a match in Las Vegas, and that anyone can come in and create sugar, chocolate and pastry magic and have a great time in the process. The fact that we're using superior professional equipment, ingredients and instruction just adds to the experience – and it truly can help make anyone feel like an artist."

Information on one-on-one or group programs and classes with Chris Hanmer is available at the school's website. The School of Pastry Design is located at 6627 Schuster Street in Las Vegas and may be reached directly at 702-523-9390.

Tags: chris hamner, food network, pastry chef, pastry design, school of pastry design