The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA
"The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA" is your all-access pass to the heart of the retail baking industry. Each episode brings you inside the kitchen with leading bakers, educators, and innovators who share their stories, tips, and insights. From the secrets of achieving the perfect loaf to navigating business growth, we explore what it takes to elevate your baking craft and career. Whether you’re a seasoned pro, an aspiring baker, or simply hungry for inspiration, tune in and discover how the Retail Bakers of America helps you rise to every challenge—and savor every success.
The Perfect Rise: Conversations with RBA
What Happens When Restaurants Stop Hiring Pastry Chefs? | Chef Kristen Egan, CMB
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In this episode of The Perfect Rise, Kimberly Houston speaks with Kristen Egan about the changing realities of pastry, hospitality, and culinary education.
From working in luxury hotels and some of the country’s most respected fine dining kitchens to building a successful pastry business and eventually teaching at the CIA, Chef Egan has experienced nearly every side of the industry.
This conversation explores:
• Why pastry craftsmanship still matters
• The decline of dedicated pastry programs in restaurants
• What today’s culinary students are struggling with most
• How COVID impacted the next generation of kitchen professionals
• The realities of burnout and entrepreneurship
• Why young chefs should stop rushing into leadership roles
• What it really takes to earn the Certified Master Baker title
Chef Egan also shares thoughtful insight into mentorship, technical standards, and the future of pastry in modern hospitality.
For bakery owners, pastry chefs, educators, students, and hospitality professionals alike, this episode is both a reflection on where the industry has been—and a conversation about where it’s headed next.
