dining
Beautiful baked goods, fresh pastries, and exquisite desserts are all hallmarks of a stay at The Betsy — and behind each of them is Pastry Chef Gabriela Amelunge, who oversees our pastry program and creates made-from-scratch desserts for both of our restaurants.
Channeling her decades of experience working, learning, and leading in the culinary industry, Chef Gabriela has created and perfected some of The Betsy’s defining recipes (looking at you, popovers).
Gabriela joined The Betsy’s culinary team over a decade ago, and her journey to The Betsy was anything but typical. Growing up in Bolivia, Gabriela took an interest in cooking and baking, refining family recipes that had been handed down for generations. In 2000, she opened her own pastry shop in Santa Cruz, and by 2007, she was hosting La Batidora, a popular televised cooking show in Bolivia. In 2009, political violence in Bolivia forced Gabriela and her family to flee the country; resettling in Miami, Chef Gabriela attended Le Cordon Bleu cooking school before joining us at The Betsy as Pastry Chef.
So… what’s Chef Gabriela’s favorite thing to bake?
"La vida cuando la endulzamos es más bella y si le agregamos chocolate es mucho mejor.
El brownie es delicioso y versátil… lo puedes comer a cualquier hora, y depende con que lo acompañes, puede ser un delicioso postre o un dulce desayuno… y también, porque no?"
"Life when we sweeten it is more beautiful, and if we add chocolate, it’s even better. The brownie is delicious and versatile —you can eat it at any time, and depending on what you accompany it with, it can be a delicious dessert, or a sweet breakfast… and why not?"
If you’re craving a Betsy brownie, Gabriela’s recipe has you covered. (And if you make a batch, snap a photo and tag us on Instagram!). Our famous popovers are also a Chef Gabriela staple, as repeat Betsy guests reading this will know. Check out this cooking lesson by Chef Gabriela on YouTube and learn how to make them at home, or take a look at our special offers and book your Betsy getaway today. Rest assured, there’ll be something warm, fresh-baked, and delicious waiting for you when you get here.
