Chef Auriane Ugalde has seen, done, and cooked it all. As a young child, Chef Auriane learned to cook with her grandmothers, and later continued to hone her skills by cooking through the Legendary Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" cookbook, a recipe at a time. Using everything she learned from Julia Child's cookbooks, she grew her skills even further by cooking for friends and her family's gatherings.
As she grew as a self-taught chef, and gained more experience in the kitchen, Chef Auriane had the opportunity to be an apprentice at 2 of the top restaurants in Spain. Once she returned to the Chicago area after being in Spain, her culinary skill had evolved, leading to her work across many types of cuisine, including Irish Pub fare, BBQ and Sushi. This diverse background eventually pointed Chef Auriane to Reno, Nevada, where she helped to design a menu for, and open 775 Gastropub. While working as the Chef at the now closed 775 Gastropub, Chef Auriane was voted one of the Best Chefs in America for three years in a row.
Now, Chef Auriane is bringing her vast cooking and baking knowledge to downtown Crystal Lake, Il, where she is opening Pots and Pies Bakery. This Parisian themed bakery showcases Chef Auriane's wide repertoire of sweet pies, savory pies and a number of other delicious pastries, all using fresh ingredients and prepared fresh, in house. Stop by during business hours to meet the Chef and try her delicious creations!