We had the good fortune of connecting with Jaime Schick and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jaime, what is the most important factor behind your success?
First we need to define success because it can look different for everyone. For me, success means that I have put in the hard work and have confidence in my skills and abilities. To get to this point, I have been consistent – consistently learning, consistently growing, consistently passionate.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Plated desserts are my passion! I teach pastry classes at Johnson & Wales University that mainly focus on creating beautiful and delicious plated desserts. I never imagined I would be in this role as an educator. ​I always gravitated toward the arts, whether it was photography, design, dance, music, etc. I had a hard time finding my path at first and took a gap year (or three!) after high school. During that time, I realized my love for art and love of food could co-exist, and pastry seemed like the perfect marriage of the two and I enrolled in a pastry program.
Like many students, I didn’t realize I would be starting in an entry level position after graduation, I had a Bachelors after all! Looking back, that is one of the things that helped me the most. This is where I learned to be humble and to own my mistakes and learn from them. It also provided me with a feeling of accomplishment knowing that I started as an entry level pastry cook and worked hard to get to where I am today.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Boston has a lot of history and lots of ways to see it! Freedom Trail and Duck Tours are two of my favorites. When you walk the Freedom Trail you also get to stop at lots of restaurant and bakeries along the way! A few of my favorite places are Union Square Donuts, Tatte Bakery & Cafe, Jonquils Bakery, Oleana or Sofra, Chickadee, Deuxave and Row 34… I could go on! Boston is a great food city.
There is no lack of things to do or see either, it just depends on the season and the weather.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my pastry chef network. This network has grown and shifted, as my career has, but having a like minded support system to cheer you on, push you forward and pick you up when you are down has been key for me.

Instagram: instagram.com/vanillabeanchef

Image Credits
Gerry Daly, Kristin Teig, Lauren Haas

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.