Foodie
Mai Giffard By Hillary Haenes
Photos by Jessica Frey
A
ugust may only mark her second year in Bakersfield, but Mai Giffard, assistant pastry chef at the Padre Hotel, is no stranger to the
community. “I have been fortunate enough to have made a lot of connections with many people in the community, and a handful of very close friends through networking,” said Giffard. “Many of whom are supporters of art, good food and wine.” Giffard, 26, attended The International Culinary Schools at the Art Institute of Orange County in her hometown of Santa Ana. There she studied culinary arts and management, then brought her impressive skills up north where she has really established herself. A lot of people hear about her work via word of mouth after she cooks at a dinner party, caters mixers at Metro Galleries or has made a birthday cake for loved ones. Her most exciting experience in the kitchen was when she recently had the opportunity to spend a day at Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse Restaurant in Berkeley. “I met her at the Buena Vista Edible Schoolyard fundraiser, and she invited my good friend and fellow pastry chef to come work for a day. She is an amazing woman, food activist, chef, restaurateur, philanthropist and one of my biggest role models,” Giffard said, who is inspired by Waters’ philosophy on farm-to-table/ seed-to-plate food. When Giffard isn’t in the kitchen at the iconic downtown hotel or freelancing cakes and French pastries for parties, she 40
Bakersfield Life
April 2012
Mai Giffard said one of her best experiences has been spending a day at Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse Restaurant in Berkeley.