The kitchen is buzzing with activity at JL Patisserie's Scottsdale location. Baguettes and croissants are in the oven and quiches are being prepared.
At the center of it all is Jenna Leurquin, the owner of JL Patisserie, a bakery and a cafe in central Phoenix.
JL Patisserie is a semifinalist for a James Beard Award in the outstanding bakery category. Finalists will be announced later this month.
Leruquin lived in the Valley for two years before opening her patisserie. Her husband, who she met in college, is from Arizona. She was initially recruited as a pastry chef at a private country club in town. But little by little, she started doing farmers markets and realized people were interested in her food.
The Show met up with her at her Scottsdale bakery recently to talk about role food and food creation played in her upbringing.
