Chef Rachel Cuzzone
Chef Instructor, Pastry Arts
"I love sharing my passion with students and inspiring them."
About
Chef Rachel was a bakeshop owner, a Resident Chef at Sur La Table, and an assistant to the U.S. Pastry Olympic Team in France. In 2014, she won second place at the Pastry Live Student Chocolate Challenge.
Rachel formerly owned Madeleine and the Traveling Bakeshop, which specialized in catering, cakes, and custom pastry. Her fascinating history includes eating her way through 5 different countries in Europe over a 6-week backpacking trip and cooking for the Sur La Table Board of Directors dinner. She also helped with product development for a local candy shop.
She has volunteered in a wide variety of continuing education classes for industry professionals, assisted peers in pastry competitions, and volunteered for the James Beard Awards two times. In addition, she volunteers every year to work with Guittard Chocolate at the National Restaurant Association Show.
Honors & Awards
- Organizational Effectiveness Award - Sur La Table 2016
- 2nd Place - Pastry Live's Student Chocolate Challenge 2014
- 2014 Outstanding Graduate of the Year, College of DuPage, IL
Certifications & Affiliations
- ServSafe® Manager
Professional EXPERIENCE
- Assistant to the U.S. Pastry Olympic Team (Coupe du Monde), Hillside, IL and Lyon, France
- Part Time Pastry Instructor - North American Pizza and Culinary Academy, Lisle, IL
- Part Time Pastry Instructor - Marcels, Glen Ellyn, IL
- Resident Chef - Sur La Table, Naperville, IL
- Cake Decorating Assistant, Glen Ellyn, IL
- Adjunct Faculty - College of DuPage, Chicago, IL
- Kitchen Team Member - Delaware North Companies, Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
- Baking Assistant - College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL
Education
- Bachelor Degree in Hospitality & Tourism Management, Roosevelt University
- Associate Degrees in Culinary Arts and in Baking & Pastry, College of DuPage, IL
In The News
Eat This, Not That! 6/9/2023
National Culinary Review Sept/Oct 2023 - Page 64
Special Interests
Reading, traveling, time with my family and friends — especially cooking and entertaining. I love to host cooking parties where we are all in the kitchen!