You can describe former Tucsonan turned Colorado pastry chef Samantha "Samm" Sherman in just two words: sweet genius.
The 29-year-old, who was born here and attended Harelson Elementary and Cross Middle schools before graduating from Salpointe in 2001, beat out three other pastry chefs to win $10,000 on the "Glowing Genius" episode of the Food Network series "Sweet Genius." The show first aired last week, and will be broadcast again tonight and Friday. Check foodnetwork.com for details.
Chef Samm's mom - Sandi Sherman, the gifted specialist for Prince Elementary School - said her daughter taped the show in New York City in January. But, because of confidentiality agreements, she couldn't reveal any details. When Sandi and the 16 people - including a few of Samm's elementary school teachers - who'd gathered at her Oro Valley home to watch "Sweet Genius" learned that Samm won, well, the living room got a little loud.
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"We all screamed," Sandi said.
The show, in its second season, pits contestants against each other to come up with not just edible but delicious creations based on wacky ingredients and weird inspirations from host and master pastry chef, the bald, bespectacled Ron Ben-Israel. One of Samm's challenges included using split pea soup and polenta in a chocolate dessert inspired by … fireflies. See? Wacky and weird.
As the pastry chef for Denver eateries Root Down and Linger, Samm crafts much more normal nibbles like banana crème brûlée pie featuring a peanut butter-chocolate crispy crust, sweet whipped sour cream and beer nuts.
And when she's home, where does Samm like to eat?
"We love Cafe Poca Cosa," Sandi said. "When she comes to town, she's gotta eat at Eegee's."
