Pastry is different from cooking because you have to consider the chemistry, beauty and flavor. Its not just sugar and eggs thrown together. I tell my pastry chefs to be in tune for all of this. You have to be challenged by using secret or unusual ingredients. – Ron Ben-Israel
I have a crusade against fondant, also shortening. Theres no reason why wedding cakes cant taste good if you know what youre doing. – Ron Ben-Israel
In the past few years, weve been doing amazing stuff with desserts. Pastry chefs have been using herbs and spices in their desserts. So vanilla cake doesnt have to be just vanilla, it can have a little thyme. Or you could have a custard with a little lavender in it, which is just amazing. – Ron Ben-Israel
We used to be referred to as bakers and then we became known as cake decorators and now we are known as cake designers. I teach at the French Culinary Institute in New York and cake design is a legitimate profession. – Ron Ben-Israel