Hedy Goldsmith is the mastermind behind rich-and-salty chocolate chunk cookies, coconut lime macarons and praline panna cotta.
Until last month, she was the executive pastry chef with the Genuine Hospitality Group, which includes Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink and Harry’s Pizzeria (where you can still find the biscotti-of-the-day), among other Michael Schwartz restaurants.
Last week, she left Miami and headed to Los Angeles with her wife, Heidi, and their dogs, one of whom is named Sweet Pea and inspired her sweet pea macarons -- "Not the Jewish kind," Goldsmith says, though she makes those, too.
Goldsmith has been a force in the Miami food scene since she got here 25 years ago by way of Philadelphia, Boston and New York. She and Chef Schwartz have worked together since the 1990s. She came here after going to art school hoping to be the next Annie Lebovitz ("There already was one, and she was doing it quite well.") and a stint in the kitchen at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York.
We spoke with Goldsmith at the Cypress Room in Miami’s Design District for an "exit interview," while she prepared dessert for the lunch crowd.
Amy Kalinowski, who was Goldsmith’s pastry assistant, will make sure Goldsmith’s sweet legacy continues. Kalinowski will oversee desserts as pastry chef for Michael’s Genuine. You can also try your own hand at Hedy's desserts. Her book, "Baking Out Loud," includes recipes for her signature biscotti (warning: it's hard to get them as thin as hers), chocolate popcorn and peanut bark, key lime cheesecake flan, and a nod to her hometown -- South Philly lemon ice.
Check out this sampling of Goldsmith’s decadent desserts taken from her Instagram.
dark chocolate • marcona almond #biscotti #dunkittwice #repost #notleavingyet #LAsoon @thecypressroom A photo posted by Hedy Goldsmith (@hedygoldsmith) on Feb 23, 2015 at 12:53pm PST
making junk in da trunk cookies to celebrate baby Jonah @iblamethebaby... @mgfd_mia. I love baking for dear friends. A photo posted by Hedy Goldsmith (@hedygoldsmith) on Dec 28, 2013 at 12:56pm PST
coconut • lime • macaron @thecypressroom #regram #whatvacation A photo posted by Hedy Goldsmith (@hedygoldsmith) on Oct 2, 2014 at 2:06am PDT
"Try our new Panna Cotta: Nutella with hazelnut praline #Nutella #hazelnuts #itsback #delicious A photo posted by Hedy Goldsmith (@hedygoldsmith) on Apr 19, 2014 at 6:26am PDT
#minismores #repost #latergram #YOUMISSEDIT @mgfd_mia @devinbraddock90 @dallaswynne A photo posted by Hedy Goldsmith (@hedygoldsmith) on Aug 3, 2014 at 4:49pm PDT
lighter than air ..... sour lemon meringue sticks. A photo posted by Hedy Goldsmith (@hedygoldsmith) on Jul 24, 2013 at 1:59pm PDT
#repost @mgfd_mia .... badass pasty team // badass photo @dallaswynne @devinbraddock90 #xmas2014 #hohoho A photo posted by Hedy Goldsmith (@hedygoldsmith) on Dec 19, 2014 at 5:39am PST
Pink Grapefruit Tart, roasted white chocolate, Campari pate de fruit, citrus salad @thecypressroom A photo posted by Hedy Goldsmith (@hedygoldsmith) on Jan 8, 2014 at 3:24pm PST
brown butter maple semifreddo + date leather #repost @thecypressroom @nikkinonuts @roel_alcudia A photo posted by Hedy Goldsmith (@hedygoldsmith) on Oct 22, 2013 at 7:07pm PDT
