Meet the Chef: Sweet Elizabeth's

Just like the parents of future champion figure skaters wake up before dawn to take their children to the ice skating rink, the father of the chef/owner of bake shop in Manayunk also got up at ungodly hours to drive his daughter to a French bakery so she could learn. Elizabeth Paradiso is not just a gifted baker, she is friendly, warm and sincere. It was such an enjoyable experience interviewing her. Read below to find out more.

Name: Elizabeth Paradiso

Age: 28

Hometown: Hingham, Massachusetts (located 20 miles south of Boston)

Home now: Manayunk--I walk to work.

Favorite Thing about the Community: The people and the dogs. So many dogs here... I love the people around here.

Do you do any community work? We donate to local charities, park and canal clean-ups.

Years in the Industry: 28

Earliest Cooking Memory: Baking sugar cookies and apple pies with my grandmother when I was 15 or 16.

First Kitchen Job: I worked the counter at a French bakery in my hometown. For months I begged the owner to take me into the kitchen to teach me. Six months later, I was getting to work in the kitchen starting at 4 a.m. My dad had to drive me, he was cool and excited for me.

What brought you to the industry? My grandmother taught me to bake, when I realized you could make a career out of it I was stuck. I was 15.

Advice for Home Cooks/Bakers: Use the freshest ingredients you can find. Support local farmers.

Favorite Thing to Cook: Whatever the customer wants.

Favorite Menu Item: Our red velvet, I'm very proud of it. All credit goes to my husband. There are no artificial flavors/colors. I did lots of research on the origins and figured out how to make it all natural [most red velvet cake is made with artificial red food coloring].

Healthiest Menu Item: We use all natural ingredients in our red velvet and we use different kinds of natural sugars. Roasted banana cake is also fairly healthy.

Favorite Local Restaurant: I'm a huge fan of Jake's--their short rib pizza is great. 

Favorite Restaurant in the World: Ristorante Caterina de'Medici at the Culinary Institute of America in NY, never had a bad experience there [Paradiso is a graduate of the CIA].

Guilty Pleasure (food or drink): Five Guys french fries

Last Meal on Earth: Lobster roll in New England (any place), caramel budino from Barbuzzo

Cook for Any Celebrities? Stuart Scott from ESPN

Favorite Food Shows: Top Chef, Kitchen Nightmares

Biggest Kitchen Disaster: If we had one we were able to correct it before it became a disaster.

Click here for the website.