Susan Notter, CEPC, pastry arts program director at The Pennsylvania School of Culinary Arts, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was recently named 2014 American Culinary Federation (ACF) Northeast Region Pastry Chef of the Year. Notter received the award after winning a competition at the 2014 ACF Northeast Regional Conference held in Warwick, Rhode Island, April 11–14.
The ACF Pastry Chef of the Year award, established in 2004 and sponsored by Plugrá European-Style Butter, recognizes a pastry chef who has displayed a passion for the craft, has an accomplished reputation in the pastry field and has given back through the education of others by sharing his or her skills and knowledge. As this year’s regional winner, Notter will compete for the national title and $5,000 against her regional counterparts at the 2014 ACF National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, July 25–29.
“I am very proud to represent ACF Northeast Region at the 2014 ACF National Convention in July,” Notter says. “I am constantly looking for ways to challenge myself and improve my skills. Preparation for the regional competition gave me the opportunity to work under pressure, and develop various dessert flavors and techniques. I am looking forward to practicing over the next couple of months to ensure I am ready for the competition in July. I am honored to be part of American Culinary Federation and to represent pastry chefs in the United States.”
Notter has more than 30 years of experience as a pastry chef. Her titles have ranged from pastry cook, Konditorei Heinemann, Monchengladbach, Germany, to joint business owner and instructor, International School of Confectionery Arts, Zurich, and Gaithersburg, Maryland, to head of baking and pastry department, Baltimore International College, Baltimore. Notter was named as one of the Top 10 Pastry Chefs in the United States by Pastry Art & Design in 2009 and 2010. She was a member of ACF Culinary Team USA that received a gold medal at the 2000 Internationale Kochkunst Ausstellung, commonly referred to as the “culinary Olympics,” in Erfurt, Germany. She has received numerous awards in ACF-sanctioned competitions as well as third place in the 2012 Ladies’ World Pastry Championship, Rimini, Italy. Most recently, Notter competed as part of the ACF culinary team that placed second and received a gold medal at the 2013 Dubai World Hospitality Championship. As a recognized pastry chef and instructor, Notter is frequently a guest chef at other culinary schools and has competed on several Food Network shows. Notter is a member of ACF Harrisburg Chapter.
