Zoë François
Renowned Pastry Chef and Bestselling Author
Zoë has spent the past several years writing Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day, and Zoë Bakes Cakes. Long before she had children or wrote books, Zoë studied art at the University of Vermont. While doing her art, she started a cookie company as a way to earn extra money, and her passion for baking was born. Zoë baked outrageous gourmet cookies, sold them from a beautiful vending cart and established a few wholesale accounts.
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Full Bio
Zoë has spent the past several years writing Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day, and Zoë Bakes Cakes. Long before she had children or wrote books, Zoë studied art at the University of Vermont. While doing her art, she started a cookie company as a way to earn extra money, and her passion for baking was born. Zoë baked outrageous gourmet cookies, sold them from a beautiful vending cart and established a few wholesale accounts.
Eventually Zoë graduated with a degree in art. She traveled through Europe eating pastries for her honeymoon and then finally settled in Minnesota. Zoë worked in a couple of kitchens but decided she needed more formal training and headed off to the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in New York. Since then Zoë has been a pastry chef at several Twin Cities’ restaurants. She was doing what she loved and Rick Nelson of the Minneapolis Star Tribune even called her desserts “endlessly delicious… the best in town… appealing, inventive and flat-out gorgeous…”
Zoë began teaching others baking at a local cooking school in 1997 and eventually created the Zoë Bakes website in order to share her passion for pastry. She uses photos to show step-by-step instructions on how to create wonderful desserts at home; everything from cookies to wedding cakes.
Zoë met Jeff Hertzberg while at a children’s music class with their youngest kids. They became friends and quickly realized that they shared a common obsession with baking. While Zoë was at culinary school learning the traditional methods of bread baking, Jeff was deconstructing all of those techniques at home. When she tried his method, Zoë was blown away and immediately recognized the potential and importance of what Jeff was doing. Together they came up with recipes that anyone, experienced bakers and novices, could create quickly and easily. They wrote their first book, Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day and it became a bestseller, getting rave reviews in the New York Times, Associated Press, other media all over the United States, Canada, and Europe. Jeff and Zoë wrote Healthy Bread In Five Minutes a Day, after readers from their website Artisan Bread in Five requested to see the same super-fast method adapted to healthier ingredients like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and even gluten-free ingredients.
Zoë lives in Minneapolis with her husband Graham and two sons, her best creations yet!
Testimonials
Ernie was perfect for our Elders Conference at Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan. We will definitely be using PDA again!
LITTLE RIVER BAND OF OTTAWA INDIANS
Our speaker was great and the crowd enjoyed her! She was very engaging. Thank you again PDA for the great list of suggestions!
MEDTRONIC
Everything went great! and our speaker was wonderful! Thank you so much for all your help PDA! Looking forward to the next one.
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – KANSAS CITY
I hope that this message finds you well. We had a phenomenal time with Atsuko this past Thursday. We wanted to just let you know how amazing she was. All those that were in attendance thoroughly enjoyed her and had nothing but amazing things to say about her. Thank you for working with us to make sure this happened!
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
We had a fantastic day with Inge! She was very engaging with all those that attended. Her personal stories about the holocaust were very special and we were moved that she was willing to share them with everyone. Thank you again, PDA for all your hard work and dedication to make this program such a success!
SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Dear PDA Group, Thank you so much for your hard work in scheduling our speaker! From the moment we reached out to you the first time, you worked with us on all details and logistics and kept us up-to-date on the progress. Thank you for all your hard work on making our event such a success! We couldn't have done it without you and your team!
SAP COMPANY
Thank you again, Dr. Kimbrough, for a great presentation, our attendees are still talking about it!
CAMPUS LABS
Dr. Henry Lee's presentation was entertaining, insightful and wise. I, and everyone at Pfizer, especially appreciate the remarks you directed about following your passion and preparing yourself to excel. Thank you, everyone, at PDA for helping to make this happen!
PFIZER
The event was successful! I received many messages expressing how awesome, outstanding and inspiring Ms. Webb-Christburg's speech was."
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL BREAKFAST, BOSTON, MLK SPEAKER
Everything went well. Atsuko was very easy to work with and the students enjoyed her performance! Thank you again for your recommendation and I hope to work with you again in the future!
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Novello left this morning after a very successful event on our campus! Thank you PDA Group for your help from the first phone to the last you were with us every step of the way.
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Jordan Carlos was very very entertaining! A majority of students who answered the event survey indicated they really enjoyed Jordan and definitely will bring him back!
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
On behalf of myself and my organization Entertainment Unlimited the Campus Programming Board of Ferris State University, we thank you PDA and Dan for a successful event!! Dan was magnificent! Students really enjoyed the presentation. I know I did. Can't wait to bring in more programs with PDA Group.
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
It was a great pleasure to work with PDA Group! The communication was always prompt, friendly and helpful. We loved the speakers and events we booked through Mr. Peter Walker (PDA Group).
WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Thank you, Peter, for all your help, you'll be happy to know that the event went incredibly well! Aneesa Ferreira was by far one of the best speakers we've ever had!
FURMAN UNIVERSITY
Topics
An evening with Zoë François
Videos
Road to Launch with Zoë François | Magnolia Network
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