Meet the Team: Pastry Chef Rachel

This month’s Meet the Team post is all about our amazing Pastry Chef, Rachel Cullen. Rachel is a Florida native who attended Johnson & Wales University in North Miami and Providence, Rhode Island. After graduating, she returned to Miami and had her first job with a catering company.

Chef Rachel just celebrated her 10 year anniversary with the Reunion Family and we couldn’t be luckier to have her on our team. She oversees the production of all in house pastries and desserts, creates the dessert menus for all of our restaurants and takes on any special projects that come her way.

Here is a peak into the mind of our Pastry Chef:

What are the first 3 things you do when you wake up:
Feed Maggie (our 3 year old Lab Mix)
Walk Maggie
Check my Email

Cupcakes or Regular Cake: Definitely Regular Cake, there is so much more space for decorating!

Best advice you’ve ever received: “Early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable”
One of my college professors said this and it has stuck ever since. I HATE being late unless it is unavoidable.

Favorite “Get Pumped Up” Song: “Feel So Close” by Calvin Harris.
It was played at our wedding so there is a good memory attached it to. Plus, it’s good for working out or the ride into work, it just makes me feel good!

Tell us your funniest pastry story: I made a Red Sox ball cap cake for a groom a few years ago. I set it up on the cake table and the Mother of the Groom came by and said “Now, who would leave their hat on this table?!” I was just happy it looked so realistic.

What would you choose as your last meal?: It would have to be my mom’s Schweinersnitzel (super thin pork cutlets, breaded and fried with a squeeze of lemon on top) and Parsley Potatoes or her Chicken & Waffles Pennsylvania Dutch Style (shredded stewed chicken and chicken gravy over a waffle), sounds weird but it’s amazing!

What is the most delicious thing you’ve ever made?: Hmmm…I’ve been told my Nutella pop tarts are awesome! But I think my favorite thing is my New York Cheesecake with a Brownie Bottom.

There are a ton of home bakers out there, what is the best advice you would give them?: Practice, Practice, Practice! It’s hard to get everything right the first time. Don’t get frustrated, just try again! Plus, you’re baking- so usually your mistakes are still delicious!

If you could choose 1 person (past or present) to have dinner with who would it be and why?: That’s a tough one! I will say Elisa Strauss. She is a famous cake decorator and has so much talent! I’d love to pick her brain on techniques.