Published: 06:00 AM, Wed Sep 01, 2010
Food Network chef comes to Pinehurst culinary fest
When the Food Network wanted to contact acclaimed pastry chef Florian Bellanger, producers did what anyone else would do in this modern age.
They sent him a message on Facebook.
Bellanger was delighted when he logged into his Facebook account in February and saw a message asking if he would be interested in becoming a judge on the network's new reality competition "Cupcake Wars." He contacted them right away.
"We are interviewing people and your name came around," Bellanger was told. "But we didn't know how to reach you so we found you on Facebook."
Bellanger gets a kick out of that story and out of being a judge on the reality competition, which pits four of the country's top cupcake bakers against one another. The winner gets a $10,000 prize and the chance to showcase his cupcakes at the winning gig, according to the Food Network's website.
"My position on the show is to tell them what's wrong with their cupcake and what didn't work," says Bellanger, who is a world-renowned pastry chef with more than 20 years of experience. "And to bring a technical opinion."
He'll bring his expertise to the 22nd annual Food and Wine Festival at the Pinehurst Resort over Labor Day weekend. The festival, which showcases the best in international wine and culinary talent, celebrates the harvest with a four-day line up of seminars, cooking demonstrations and evening galas. Bellanger's pastry demonstration is Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
It will be Bellanger's first appearance at the festival, and one in which he has a personal interest. Bellanger and Pinehurst Resort Executive Chef Thierry Debailleul served together in the French military when they were 18 years old. Bellanger was the pastry chef in the French Military Officer's Club in French Guyana and Debailleul was the chef. They have retained a strong bond ever since.
"I'm looking forward to seeing my friend," Bellanger says. "We've been friends forever - for, like, 25 years."
Bellanger grew up in Paris and graduated from the prestigious École de Paris des Métiers de la Table in 1983. He came to New York City in 1996, and he was celebrity chef Eric Ripert's pastry chef at the Le Bernardin restaurant until 2001. In 2003 and 2004, Pastry Art & Design magazine named Bellanger one of the 10 best pastry chefs in America. He was nominated for "Outstanding Pastry Chef" in 2000 and 2001 by the James Beard Foundation. Besides appearing as a judge on "Cupcake Wars," he is chef and co-owner of Mad-Mac, "The Authentic French Macarons and Madeleines," a retail food service and hospitality company.
"It has been 20 years since Florian and I cooked in the jungle of Guyana in the middle of nowhere," Debailleul said in an e-mail. "Having him for a Wine Fest guest chef is truly outstanding after both our careers took us so far apart in this world. I am looking forward to the Labor Day weekend and our reunion."
Bellanger spoke from his home in New Jersey about his visit to Pinehurst and his work as a judge on the Food Network's "Cupcake Wars."
Observer: Why did you chose to be a judge on "Cupcake Wars?" Had you thought about doing television?
Bellanger: Actually, I've done some (television) in the past but as a guest appearance. I did a few shows with Martha Stewart. I did CNN and things like that. But being part of a TV crew, it was my first experience. But that's something that I find interesting.
Observer: What have you enjoyed about being on the program?
Bellanger: The explosion of the trend of cupcakes has been tremendous, and you can see it's a serious trend. It's not only in big cities. There are cupcake stores opening everywhere.
My business is not based on cupcakes. This is not what I do, but as a pastry chef it was interesting to be a part of it. I think it's a big trend and I think it's here to stay. Cupcakes is an American icon.
Observer: What do you enjoy about attending food and wine festivals?
Bellanger: It's great to meet other chefs. It's great to taste different types of food. I'm really curious about that. I really like it.
Observer: What's your speciality in pastry?
Bellanger: I love doing plated desserts.
Observer: Do you enjoy doing cooking demonstrations?
Bellanger: I like it very much. I like to interact with people. I like to hear what they think about the pastry world. It's part of the education, and it's also part of showing people what you do. ... We don't want pastry being run by giant factories. It has to remain a craft.
Observer: What else would like to share with us?
Bellanger: We're going into season two (of "Cupcake Wars"). We're going to start shooting on Sept. 9. Right after Pinehurst, actually. Season one was eight episodes and season two is going to be 13, which is cool. We're going to have a whole bunch of new contestants.
Observer: What makes a great cupcake?
Bellanger: It has to be creative, original and very good.
Staff writer Amneris Solano can be reached at solanoa@fayobserver.com or 486-3521.
Pinehurst Food and Wine Festival
When: Thursday to Monday
Where: Pinehurst Resort at 80 Carolina Vista Drive in Pinehurst
Cost: Tickets for individual events range in price from $30 to $225. Call for overnight package rates. Overnight packages start at $292 per night per person and include a full day of seminars, wine activities and daily tastings featuring more than 100 wines.
Information: Call (800) 487-4653 or visit www.pinehurstwinefest.com.