3 minute read
From Lawyer to Baker — Lindsay Haigh ’95
Lindsay Haigh’s appearance on Fox Network’s MasterChef reality series in 2018 almost didn’t happen. Knowing of Lindsay’s prowess as an amateur cook, a friend tagged for her the upcoming auditions on Facebook. “The auditions were that Saturday, and I happened to be free,” Lindsay recalled. In the season’s fi rst episode, Lindsay made the cut by impressing judges with her original Lobsterbake soup; she was eliminated in the season’s ninth episode when a Salisbury steak dish didn’t hit the mark. Nonetheless, the experience was a pivotal step toward launching a culinary dream.
At the time of the show, Lindsay was a trial attorney with her own practice in Atlanta. Compared to fellow contestants who felt future careers might depend on the show’s outcome, Lindsay approached the adventure with modest expectations. “I already had a good life,” she says. “I was recently married, with a house, dogs, and a solid career.” From that perspective, anything that happened on MasterChef was icing on the cake. Lindsay describes her time on the show as “amazing” and credits her courtroom experience—“it’s a performance because you’re trying to convince the jury of something”—with helping her feel comfortable being on camera.
Despite her culinary ambitions being modest at the time of fi lming MasterChef, Lindsay and her wife, Stephanie, have since relocated to Jamestown, Rhode Island, leaving behind Lindsay’s law practice and Stephanie’s career in corporate recruiting to become owners of Village Hearth Bakery and Café. Lindsay learned a lot from her MasterChef mentor, Aaron Sanchez. She also speaks highly of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey, whom she describes as encouraging as well as demanding. “I appreciated watching Gordon close up when he is cooking,” she says. “He operates with effi ciency, executing his plan without being scattered or leaving a mess. Having a game plan is important to me as I get up at 3 a.m. for the bakery.”
This move was not an impulsive decision. Following MasterChef, Lindsay developed a side business of making custom cakes and catering. Then, being home during the pandemic gave Lindsay and Stephanie time to plan a new direction: They chose to purchase an existing business that let them live closer to family. “This is our dream,” Lindsay says. “We took the plunge, but we didn’t go into it blindly.” Lindsay sings the praises of Stephanie, whom she jokes was “not allowed in the kitchen previously” and has “really stepped it up” to be a huge part of the business. Village Hearth is open from 7:00 am - 3:00 pm, with occasional night service for pizza. Lindsay envisions expanding at some point, “but right now, I’m the only baker!”
Lindsay credits Cushing for being a “launching pad” in life by giving her a foundation of skills and confi dence. Growing up in nearby Orange, Lindsay fi rst learned of the Academy because her father had coached with Wayne Sanborn. After playing basketball here, Lindsay attended St. Anselm’s College on a full basketball scholarship. Lindsay speaks in glowing terms of her experience as a day student. She recalls driving to school with Dave Royal, longtime athletics equipment manager, at 5:30 am, and equipment manager, at 5:30 am, and lingering in the library until classes began. She also fondly remembers math teacher David Walton making students sing songs from the musical Grease when they were late to class. “I never felt diff erent as a day student,” Lindsay said. “I felt like I practically lived on campus.”
Despite working long hours at Village Hearth, Lindsay still enjoys cooking at home. A popular weekday dinner might be stuff ed sweet potatoes and for special occasions, of course this New England native brings out the lobster!
