In today’s episode, I talk to pastry chef Alyssa Gangeri from Buttermilk Ranch in Nashville. She is a passionate pastry chef who has worked with the likes of certified master pastry chefs Frank Vollkommer and Antonio Bachour.
You’ll hear about her dedication to laminated pastry and how she bridges the gap between classic pastry and modern trends. She shares what she’s learned from her famous mentors, and her industry-shaking “cube” that’s created a new quick to-go concept in the breakfast sandwich world.
What you'll learn with pastry chef Alyssa Gangeri
- Why Alyssa Gangeri loves laminated pastry (3:18)
- What she learned from working with Frank Vollkommer (4:42)
- What she learned from Antonio Bachour (6:51)
- The many factors to consider when finding a recipe that works (8:26)
- Why every croissant is unique (10:27)
- The differences between a croissant you get in the US versus France (11:15)
- The best compliment she can get (11:32)
- Recent developments in the croissant world (13:19)
- The traditionalists versus the modernists (14:15)
- What the French do with day old croissants (16:10)
- Pastry chef Alyssa Gangeri inspiration for creating Buttermilk Ranch (16:51)
- How a croissant changes by the hour (17:40)
- The story of Buttermilk Ranch (19:40)
- Why bakeries are a dying breed (20:03)
- The disconnect between pastry and restaurant menus (20:40)
- The story of the “cube” (22:57)
- How the cube tastes and why it works (27:40)
- The evolution of this cubed sandwich (30:10)
- Her global sources of inspiration (31:16)
- The latest flavor obsession she’s experimenting with (33:15)
- How she’s playing with flavor crystals (34:30)
- The monster that Frank Vollkommer created (36:28)
- What’s on the menu at Buttermilk Ranch (37:20)
- What keeps the gelato fresh any time of day (39:06)
- The seasonal dessert you can try at home (41:13)
- How Alyssa Gangeri came up with the idea for her cookbooks (45:07)
- Where to eat in Nashville (49:32)
- Her guilty pleasure food (51:22)
- Cookbooks to add to your shelf (51:50)
- Pet peeves in the kitchen (52:34)
- Link to the podcast episode on Apple Podcast
Links to other episodes in Tennessee
Links to most downloaded episodes (click on any picture to listen to the episode)
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- ‘The Cube' from the Butter Milk Ranch
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- Beignets and Strawberries from Alyssa Gangeri
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- Churro Croissant from Alyssa Gangeri
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- Colored Croissants at Butter Milk Ranch
Download Alyssa Gangeri's cake recipe
Click here to download the Peach & Pecan Cake recipe
