Behind every decadent dessert is a talented pastry chef, precise planning, and tremendous teamwork.
Executive Pastry Chef Patricia Nash at Sunseeker Resort's Sweet Shine Dessert Bar knows this well. She learned while competing against the world's best.
"I did Basil two times, Luxembourg three times, the Olympics three times, Scotland, ScotHot, and then, we had a show in Chicago. Not all 12 countries came to the U.S. where we hosted it, and we won that one," Nash said.
From 1999 to 2007, Patricia helped Olympic Pastry Team USA compete globally with delights like a movie theater box office, motorcycles, and a picture frame, all sculpted out of chocolate.
"I think when you love what you do, it shows in your work," Nash said.
However, those prestigious treats are just the icing on the cake of her career. Coaching and camaraderie are the main ingredients.
"I love that. With students there's no egos, there's no bad habits, they're hungry to learn," Nash said.
With her Olympic days in the past, she now draws inspiration from hosting a monthly competition with Sweet Shine staff.
For Sous Chef Hannah Denys, these competitions have satisfied more than just her sweet tooth.
"She showed me a quicker way to burn my chocolate, and it was just like, a little trick, but that trick saved so much time, and I was like, "Oh my God, duh!" Denys said.
While preparing pastries is typically a one-person job, Patricia says there are never too many cooks in this kitchen.
"Now it's kind of like, they're confident, they trust each other, they rely on each other, they're really a lot stronger than I am," Nash said.