Photo by Michael Donahue, Michael Donahue/The Commercial Appeal // Buy this photo
Stephanie Beliles is pastry chef and owner of Sticky Fingers bakery.
Title: Pastry chef/owner of Sticky Fingers bakery
Age: 27
Hometown: Memphis
Who or what was your first cooking influence? My grandmother. ... My grandmother did the dirty Southern green beans. Either she was stirring them in the casserole with the cream of mushroom and the French fried onions or she was cooking them in about 16 ounces of butter.
What was the first thing you ever cooked or baked? I remember I did a big dinner for my family. I probably was in the 8th grade; maybe freshman year. My mom had an old Justine's (restaurant) cookbook. ... I did the Justine's chocolate mousse. I did a filet with a creamy bernaise sauce. And I did the medallion-cut potatoes. ... It turned out really well. They all were freaking out about it. I think that's when the cogs in my brain just kind of really started turning, thinking, "Hey, I am not that bad at this."
What made you decide to become a chef and when was that? I was fortunate to work through college ... at great places like Paulette's and Stella and Encore in front of the house and in back of the house. I was really fortunate to work with a lot of great people. ... I moved to Montana. ... I did some classes in Montana and became a baking apprentice at this place called Homepage Cafe. It was really just a great experience.
What was your first food-related job? West Street Diner in Germantown, Tenn. I started as a hostess and they let me kind of do a little food prep in the back.
What was something important that a fellow chef taught you? The importance of having a sharp knife. I think probably the one that harped on me the most about it was Kevin Stein, owner of Montana Fish Co. (in) Bozeman, Mont.
Describe a dish you created. A white chocolate and raspberry pot pie. It's white chocolate filling with fresh berries. And I made puff pastry. And I top it off with a raspberry drizzle.
What do you cook or bake at home, if anything? I'm a big Mexican fan. I wrote an entry in my blog (foodiecallmemphis.blogspot.com) about how corn tortillas are one of the biggest staples in any kitchen. There's so much to do with them. I'm a big enchilada fan and a big taco fan.
What's your favorite food? A really good pizza covered in goat cheese.
What's your least favorite food? I'm really not a big fan of sardines. I'm also not a big fan of sauerkraut.
Sticky Fingers is in Miss Cordelia's Grocery at 737 Harbor Bend Road; (901) 281-4714 or (901) 526-4772.
Michael Donahue: (901) 529-2797; donahue@commercialappeal.com
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