Birthdays are typically a special time. Each year, there’s one day dedicated to celebrating all there is to love about one individual. Being showered with adoration and gifts can be an added bonus. While most people look forward to receiving gifts from others on their birthdays, chef and instructor Andra Chisholm chose to gift herself a new brand: Bougie Eats.
The northern California native, who was a contestant on two Food Network shows, launched the online pastry academy in December 2020. Andra’s appearances on season four of Holiday Baking Championship and the first episode of Guy Fieri’s Dessert Games, sparked a flame that reminded her of her passion and gift of teaching. Winning $6,000 to invest in her brand in a local Shark Tank-like competition further validated Andra’s idea. However, procrastination and indecision gave way for some time until a financial misunderstanding became the catalyst and a wake up call that led to Bougie Eats.
“I teach people how to make boogie ass desserts, that’s my tagline,” Andra told THE BLOCK. “Everything’s online and it’s beginner friendly. The goal is to just show people that those fancy desserts that you see online and everywhere else are feasible to do.”
By day, Andra is an instructor at a university where she teaches everything from restaurant management and culinary to baking and pastry courses. It’s these experiences that, on occasion, inform Bougie Eats’ course design.
“Since I’ve been teaching, I just wanted to continue that and have something for myself,” she explained. “It’s a full course with videos, and you get a little mini textbook. It’s everything you need whether you’re doing it for fun or want to enhance your business, whatever it is, I have a class for you.”
In The Art of Chocolate course, participants engage in 18 lessons where they learn about the science of chocolate, including how to temper chocolate and create bonbons. The 35-lesson Art of Dessert: Entremets and Petit Gâteaux course offers aspiring bakers an opportunity to learn how to create elevated layered mousse cakes like the Caramel Macchiato Entremet.
At Bougie Eats, it’s not only about the desserts. Instructing aspiring bakers about other important aspects like plating and pricing are also important, and when considering what to offer, Andra goes straight to the source with social media polls and examining trends in the industry.
“My first class, Art of Dessert: Entremets and Petit Gâteaux, was such a popular item that was so trendy and viral at the time,” she commented. “I have a plated dessert class because sometimes savory chefs don’t know how to [make] desserts or they just don’t want to. So, I created a class to show even for regular chefs, desserts don’t have to be intimidating.”
For Andra, who is the daughter of two chefs, creating valuable content that’s accessible is key, especially for those who haven’t learned the habits and techniques that could help grow their brands, she said.
in the pastry industry, these types of desserts that I’m creating are sometimes so exclusive and snobby; there’s limited access.
I thought it was just so important to make everything accessible. None of this has to be a secret.
Andra Chisholm
“A lot of the modern desserts aren’t taught in pastry, culinary school, so it’s one of those things where you have to go out, get industry experience or work with some world renowned chef,” she added. “I’m trying to show them it doesn’t have to be crazy. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars trying to learn a skill. It’s easy, it’s fun and I’m making it accessible.”
Further developing the brand, eventually having a physical school and a cookbook are on the horizon for Andra. In terms of the look of her cookbook, think coffee table chic. The plan is for the contents to be an extension of recipes that are currently offered through Bougie Eats with some additions that touch every category like tarts, pies, chocolates and plated desserts.
I’m in this space now where everything in my life I want to do serves me and brings me happiness and brings me comfort. This brand has allowed me to really tap into my full creative. and it just brings me happiness.
Andra Chisholm
To connect with Andra, visit Bougie Eats’ website and follow the brand on Instagram.
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Chocollor
So proud of Andra!
She’s amazing!