Originally from Chicago, Chef Lauren always had a passion for baking, and she earned a Pastry Certificate from The College of the Canyons in Valencia, CA and has been pursuing her culinary career ever since. Her main passions are cake decorating and high-end desserts, but she’ll never shy away from a good ol' chocolate chip cookie! Her main baking philosophy is that it is less about the product and more about the journey. Of course, things need to taste good (and hopefully be beautiful), but the main goal is connection. The food we make and share creates a bond by evoking memories or creating new ones. I want everyone in my classes to leave with a better understanding of the process, but for me, the most important part is to have fun and enjoy yourself.