Lauren Kroesser Competes in Cookie Creations Contest Hosted by Girls Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts

Lauren Kroesser, executive pastry chef at Eastern Standard, Island Creek Oyster Bar and The Hawthorne, will compete in Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts’ Cookie Creations on Thursday, February 6 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge. Kroesser will compete against 13 top local chefs to create a unique dessert or appetizer using Girl Scout cookies as an ingredient.

Growing up on the North Shore, Kroesser’s experience with baking started young as she worked side by side in the kitchen with her mother’s large Italian family. In college she studied television broadcasting at the University of Delaware and worked summers on Nantucket at the restaurants The Ropewalk and The Club Car in various front-of-house positions. Meanwhile her passion for food resurfaced as baking became her stress release. In 2008, she enrolled in Boston University’s gastronomy program, the first step towards turning her passion into a career.

Shortly after graduation, Sel de la Terre hired Kroesser as a pastry assistant and she worked her way up to the head pastry chef position. As the head pastry chef, she initiated the restaurant’s bread program and made daily pastries for both the restaurant and its retail store. After two years at Sel de la Terre, Kroesser transitioned to her current roles at Eastern Standard, Island Creek Oyster Bar and The Hawthorne. Working at three distinct entities, she strives to offer delicious bread, pastries, desserts and petit fours that complement each restaurant’s unique food and beverage menus.

Other chefs competing in Cookie Creations include: Susan Abbott, executive pastry chef, The Catered Affair; Danny Angelopolus, Henrietta’s Table, The Charles Hotel, Harvard Sq.; Danielle Buxton, general manager, A Day to Remember, LLC; Monica Glass, pastry chef, Clio & Uni Sashimi Bar; Donald Hernstrom, head chef and ice cream creator, J.P. Licks; Katie Kimble, pastry chef, Area Four; Brian Dandro, executive chef, The Royal Sonesta Hotel; Christina Mercado, restaurant manager and pastry chef, Finale, Harvard Sq.; Brian Mercury, executive pastry chef, Harvest; Jon Riley, executive chef, Capers Catering; Eunice Feller, co-owner and chef, Bread & Chocolate; and chefs from Kings Bowl America and Shake Shack

To learn more or purchase tickets, visit www.girlscoutseasternmass.org/donate/CookieCreations.html.