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The next generation of culinary artisans are changing up the industry. These artisans have a whole new approach to reaching and satisfying the next generation consumer. In this podcast we will explore chefs and artisans from around the world diving into their story and passion.

In this episode of Chef AF, I chat with Pastry Chef Saura Kline from Local Jones, a restaurant at the HALCYON, a hotel in Cherry Creek about finding her passion for cooking, her role models and her favorite thing to make.

Kline is the new pastry chef at Local Jones. She was previously the executive pastry chef for all Kevin Taylor restaurants and boasts a first-place recognition in the 2018 La Coupe d\u2019Altamira local Denver chocolate competition.

I ask Kline about her earliest memory of being in the kitchen and she says, \u201cmy very first food memory was visiting my grandmother. I think I was probably 10 or around that age and she had a peach tree in the back of her yard and she made this homemade peach pie with homemade crust. It blew my mind like I was just like this is so amazing. Instead of a birthday cake I would ask for a peach pie on my birthday every year.\u201d

We talk about when Kline discovered this was her passion she wanted to pursue and she said, \u201cI mean still even to this day sometimes I'll be making rice krispies or you know Snicker Doodle Cookies and I'm just like this is so awesome I get paid to do this.\u201d

Although Kline started in the savory side of cooking, she always knew she wanted to focus on pastry. She studied many famous pastry chef\u2019s cookbooks to better understand the process or techniques. Kline says when asked about the science of baking, \u201cif you are going to make a cake or if you're going to make bread you want to have these ratios but sometimes I like to play around with sauces, you know mousses and ice creams and all of these things, I like to bend the rules a little bit.\u201d

The Halcyon hotel offers three restaurants for guests and locals. They offer American bistro, Local Jones, and Elevated Rooftop Bar where you can check out the Denver views. Kline\u2019s role is to make all the breads, desserts, jams and the amenities for the hotel.

To hear how she highlights seasonality and the local influence in her recipes plus get her recipe for Roasted Corn Flan with Caramel Corn check out this episode of Chef AF \u201cIt\u2019s All Food.\u201d You can listen to this episode and more on Spotify!