Chef Vicki Berger

Chef Instructor, Hospitality & Restaurant Operations Management, General Education

Instructor Vicki Berger
Location: Online Programs
Favorite Dish: Sushi

“Having the opportunity to teach at Escoffier was like winning the lottery! I am so blessed to be able to do what I love and share my passion and knowledge with my students. My prior management experience, as well as my MBA, are what drove me to teach the core classes like Foodservice Management, Cost Control and Purchasing, and Entrepreneurship. My goal is to help prepare my students to achieve their goals — whether it’s landing their first job in the culinary industry or opening their own business!”

Chef Vicki Berger

About

Award-winning Chef Vicki made the decision to change careers and pursue her dream of becoming a Pastry Chef in 2001. Her first job was as Assistant Pastry Chef at St. Louis Country Club, training under Executive Pastry Chef (and now Escoffier Instructor) Chef Cheryl Herbert.

While working there, Vicki got involved with the American Culinary Federation (ACF) and competed in both the Baron Galand Knowledge Bowl and the Junior Hot Foods Team competition — earning gold medals in both. After competing, she went on to coach the St. Louis Knowledge Bowl team to four consecutive National Championships.

When the opportunity arose to enter the field of culinary education, she became a Chef Instructor at L’Ecole Culinaire where she taught Advanced Baking & Pastry as well as Purchasing and Cost Control. In 2009 she helped open the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in St. Louis where she was the Director of Education and then Campus Director.

One of the highlights of her career has been the chance to meet or work alongside several Certified Master Chefs, as well as celebrity chefs like Alton Brown, Cat Cora, Gale Gand, Tal Ronen, and Adam Perry Lang. She loves the “ah ha!” moment from her students — when a formula in Cost Control or the science behind recipe ingredients all becomes clear, and the student really grasps the concept!

Honors, Awards & Affiliations

  • 2005 Junior Chef of the Year - St. Louis Chefs de Cuisine Association
  • Gold Medal - 2005 ACF Central Region Student Team Champions
  • Silver Medal - 2005 ACF National Student Team Competition
  • Coach, St. Louis Chefs de Cuisine Baron Galand Knowledge Bowl Team - National Champions 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009

Professional EXPERIENCE

  • Director of Education/Executive Chef - Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, St. Louis, MO
  • Pastry Chef Instructor - L'Ecole Culinaire, St. Louis, MO
  • Chef Instructor - The Culinary Institute of St. Louis, MO
  • Pastry Chef - Whole Foods Market, Town & Country, MO
  • Pastry Chef - The Gatesworth At One McKnight Place, St. Louis, MO
  • Assistant Pastry Chef - St. Louis Country Club, St. Louis, MO

Dish Examples

Valentine's Day Display Case

This display case is from when I was a Pastry Chef at the Whole Foods Market in Town & Country, MO. This photo is from Valentine’s Day, but I loved EVERY holiday because they gave me the opportunity to make my display case the crown jewel of the store!

whole foods valentines day display case

Education

  • Master of Education, American Intercontinental University, Schaumburg, IL
  • Master of Business Administration, Lindenwood University, St. Charles, MO
  • Bachelor of Science, Lindenwood University, St. Charles, MO

Special Interests

I enjoy all of the movies in the MCU (Marvel Comics Universe) as well as watching the St. Louis Blues Hockey Team.

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