Cody Middleton, one of the newly appointed Pastry Chefs of the Polo Club of Boca Raton, actively seeks new learning experiences to push his boundaries, grow and evolve.
Justin Fry is Making Pastry a Priority at The Club at Longview
The Club at Longview’s new, comprehensive pastry program is rooted in innovation, quality and member preference. Justin Fry can make almost anything out of chocolate. A table? Sure. A vase? Absolutely. An elaborate buffet that would ultimately land him a job at one of the best clubs in Charlotte? You bet. Fry is the newly…
Sweet Success: How to Sell Club Desserts
Club pastry chefs are infusing dessert menus with creative dishes and delicious descriptions. From sugary custards to chocolatey cakes, club dessert menus are a place of sweet joy. They are also often a club’s last chance to “wow” members and guests after a satisfying meal. “Dessert isn’t a must-have for most people,” says Laura Herman,…
The Making of the Modern Praline
Cody Middleton, Pastry Chef of Forsyth CC, believes the modern praline turns heads by exhibiting a strategically-designed color scheme and sophisticated fillings. In February, chocolate is in the spotlight. And as the pastry chef of Forsyth Country Club, this craze prompted me to initiate a new confectionary program here at the club. For Valentine’s Day,…
How All Chefs Can Use Baker’s Percentage
Forsyth CC’s Pastry Chef, Cody Middleton, believes more chefs should use baker’s percentage to simplify the way they approach recipes and formulas. Any chef who has studied baking and pastry probably has had a nightmare or two about “baker’s math” or “baker’s percentage.” (It’s a way to express the ratio of ingredients to one another…
Revamping the Pastry Program at Forsyth CC
Forsyth’s CC’s new Pastry Chef, Cody Middleton, has big plans for the future of the club’s pastry program. Here’s how he plans to elevate and evolve all aspects. On my very first day as Pastry Chef of Forsyth Country Club (Winston-Salem, N.C.), the Executive Sous Chef told me that the pastry program here was now my…
At Charlotte CC, Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Charlotte Country Club’s F&B success hinges on the dynamic relationships between its chefs. It’s a match made in culinary heaven: John Cornely, the savvy and skilled Executive Chef at Charlotte Country Club (CCC), and James Satterwhite, the club’s experienced and meticulously driven Executive Pastry Chef. They are one of the industry’s most dynamic culinary teams—and…
Three Advantages of a Full-Time Pastry Department
House-made pastries are undeniably seductive and for Chevy Chase Club these items bring that “special something” to the table and the operation. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always liked to feed people. Food makes people happy. It’s a commonality we all share—especially in country clubs where dining is often the one thing…
My Sweet New Life as Executive Pastry Chef of Chevy Chase Club
Elena Clement, CEPC, AAC didn’t plan on taking an industry job, but the challenges and opportunities with the position of Executive Pastry Chef at Chevy Chase (Md.) Club were too exciting to pass up. Humoring my chef friend, Scott Craig, I agreed to visit him at Chevy (Md.) Chase Club where he has been the…
A New Way “To Go”
On Tuesdays and Thursdays at Belle Meade Country Club, Nashville, Tenn., less is now proving to be much, much more. Wednesdays draw in members with a delicious pasta bar. Similarly, Fridays and Saturdays are—and have always been—popular a la carte dining nights. This left Tuesdays and Thursdays with lower profit margins and less foot traffic…
Turning Up the Heat
Despite a snowstorm that was severe enough to cancel hundreds of flights into the usually weather-proof Denver International Airport, over 200 executive chefs, general managers and other industry food-and-beverage leaders from 37 states and Canada made their way to Colorado for Club & Resort Business’ Fifth Annual Chef to Chef Conference, held March 10-12 at…
Finer with Age
Traditions drawn from the unique Donald Ross course at Monroe Golf Club are now matched with equal elegance inside its clubhouse. Many clubs honor their connections to legendary golf course architects by naming rooms in their clubhouses for them. But these sometimes prove to be gestures made in name only, with little carried through from…
Curtain Calls for the Understudies
Desert Highlands, in Scottsdale, Ariz., boasts some of the most sumptuous menus in the area. And members who eat in the club’s various dining rooms know that their meals are the inspiration of Executive Chef Michael Hoobler. It’s not likely, however, that they are as familiar with Daniel Chagolla, Steve Bruni, or Steve Amine. They…