FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. COC-07-043-SC
December 13, 2006
New Pastry Chef Instructor Keeps it Fresh  To then-6-year-old Cindy Schwanke, nothing was worse than the discounted day-old pastries her mother brought home from work.
"I hated them," admits Schwanke. "From that time on, I knew I wanted to be a pastry chef because, to me, freshness is a must." Now an award-winning pastry chef with more than 20 years of experience in the food-service industry, Schwanke will teach the first pastry baking class at College of the Canyons during the 2007 winter session that runs from Jan. 2 through Feb. 3. "I came to COC in search of classes to complete my four-year degree, and that is how I learned of the great need to address the culinary arts passion in our valley," says Schwanke. "I hope to give my students a strong desire for a future in culinary arts by sharing my passion and experiences with them." Schwanke has experience in teaching specialty classes in pastry design, baking and cake decoration as well as having the opportunity to prepare the specialty desserts for the Academy Award dinner hosted by Wolfgang Puck's Spago. While at Spago, Schwanke had the opportunity to train with Sherry Yard, who was named outstanding pastry chef by the James Beard Foundation. "A James Beard award," Schwanke explains, "is the equivalent to the Oscar in the realm of culinary arts." "We are so fortunate to have a pastry chef that worked with Wolfgang Puck," said Kevin Anthony, department chair of the Hotel, Restaurant and Culinary Arts Department at COC. "Cindy's professionalism and enthusiasm are going to help develop our culinary arts program." A resident of Santa Clarita for 17 years, Schwanke has also worked with the Hyatt Hotels in Valencia and Huntington Beach and at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. Note to Editors: Click the image above to download a high-resolution photo suitable for publication. | 
