Tandra Watkins
Pastry Chef, Ashley’s Restaurant and The Capital Bar & Grill
111 West Markham St., Little Rock
CapitalHotel.com
501-374-7474
Most Gratifying Moments
I have had many wonderful and memorable moments in my career, but there is one that sticks out the most just because I am a sucker for a good love story and happy endings and all. A few years ago we had a family coming into Ashley’s to celebrate their parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. Half a century… that’s quite a celebration and when I found out that the bride had never had a wedding cake all those years ago, I had to make her one for her golden anniversary. My team and I prepared a beautiful wedding cake for them and they were absolutely thrilled and surprised by it all. It was such a sweet moment to see the couple cutting into their wedding cake after all those years surrounded by the family that they raised together… I love that stuff!
Recipe for Success
1 | History
I have been cooking for 22 years, doing every job in the kitchen from the bottom on up.
2 | Inspiration
Cooking good food excites me and I enjoy taking care of people.
3 | R&D
Food memories, other chefs, songs, classic dishes.
4 | Schedule
However long it takes to get it all done.
5 | Home
I cook soups and stews in the cold months and lighter fare like salads when it’s warm. But Sunday is always chicken.
6 | Complicated
Our croissants that we serve for breakfast in Ashley’s. They require time to build up the layers of butter and pastry!
7 | Popular
Right now, I suppose it would be our Banana Pain Perdu with Peanut Butter Caramel, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Salty Bacon.
8 | Plan B
Writing or something in the arts.
9 | Dream Guest
My dad. He passed long before I found my feet as a chef.
10 | Star
I like Anthony Bourdain from “No Reservations”