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Beginners, fear not! After hitting up the snacks and cocktails/mocktails, our instructors are experts at making learning fun and approachable, ensuring that even the most inexperienced decorators can unleash their inner pastry Picasso. At Bon Vivant you'll find yourself immersed in an atmosphere of laughter, friendly competition, and genuine camaraderie with your favorite people. We're not just here to teach you how to decorate; we're here to help you create memories that will be talked about for years to come.
Bon Vivant founder Emily Nejad is known equally for her cutting edge cake designs and for her joyfully rebellious personality and style. Since leaving her music career behind and founding Bon Vivant Cakes studio in 2017, Emily quickly became the go-to cake creative for the Chicago cool crowd. In 2021, Bon Vivant pivoted from taking custom orders to offering a full calendar of weekly cake and treat workshops designed for the cake-curious and pastry pro's alike.
Our Cookie Queen from Eugene, Oregon! Amanda graduated with Honors (Best Overall) from the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in Vancouver in both Culinary and Baking & Pastry Arts. Say that 5 times fast! From winning first place in her childhood neighborhood's cake walk competition after baking her dad's family's carrot cake recipe, to running her own cookie decorating business, Amanda's experience, expertise and fun humorous energy is unbeatable.
Brimming with hometown pride all the way from Washington, DC, Anika fell in love with baking the moment she was awarded Best In Show in a neighborhood festival with an Apple Pie! From home-baker to biology major to pastry professional, Anika's wide range of talents and interests (say hello to our resident pop-punk professor) bring so much joy to the Bon Vivant space and is truly the apple of our eye.
Born in Texas, raised in the suburbs of Chicago, and fully realized in Chicago proper, Michelle is our offsite cookie event champion. Prior to baking, Michelle was in finance working a different kind of dough! A recent graduate from culinary school, you'll also find her making magic in bread and pastry at Publican Quality Bread, traveling to new places, and continuing her search for the best local croissant.
Born in a little town by the Atlantic Ocean, Martina from Argentina graduated from College of DuPage with a Culinary Arts Degree for savory foods, though it didn't take long for sweets to steal her heart! With an appreciation and love of the science baking pastry, as well as experience in catering and workshop instruction, we are so lucky to have Martina on the team. Want to win her over? Bring her favorite childhood birthday treat, Marquis Cake, around-- brownie cake, dulce de leche chantilly cream, and toasty italian meringue. YUM!
With a background in marketing/branding agencies as well as the hospitality industry, Claire helps keeps things at Bon Vivant organized. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, she loves nothing more than a big glass of cold milk while taste-testing all the amazing BVC treats.