Madeline, please tell us a little about yourself.
I began my career in 1974 as the first female chef ever hired at the renowned Plaza Hotel in New York City and from there worked in the kitchens of some of the city’s top restaurants. Eventually, I opened Patisserie Lanciani in Greenwich Village. In 1992, I opened Duane Park Patisserie in TriBeCa, a beloved neighborhood bakery, that also serves the catering and event industry. Duane Park Patisserie's desserts have been included on the menu in events like The Metropolitan Costume Ball, The Robin Hood Foundation Annual Gala, The Marine Corps Ball and The Metropolitan Opera Company Season Opener.
What inspired the name of the bakery, Duane Park Patisserie?
The name was chosen because of the location, near the beautiful Duane Park. I felt it would be easy to locate the bakery - even before google maps!
What is the most rewarding part of owning a bakery?
It may seem corny, but the most rewarding part is making people happy. Cooking/baking is an act of love/nurturing.
What was the most challenging cake you have baked?
A scale model of a particular old Rolls Royce car.
Which is the hottest selling cake at Duane Park Patisserie? Which one is your personal favorite?
Our most popular items are our Ring Dings. My personal favorite is the PB&J.
Tell us about your experience of being the Chopped Champion - winning the ‘Sweet Surprises’ episode of the Food Network’s “Chopped”.
It was incredibly stressful. Besides giving birth to my two children, this was the most stressful single day in my memory.
How has the pandemic affected you?
62-65% of my business has always events: catered events, corporate events, private events (weddings, birthdays, bat/bar mitzvahs). This all evaporated immediately in March 2020. While people are still celebrating birthdays, weddings, etc these celebrations are very small compared to pre-covid events.
In the beginning, my business was off 75% from 2019. No events. People left the neighborhood, so little OTC (over the counter) sales. I decided to focus on marketing the Ring Dings because they ship well. As a result, that sector of my business rose significantly.
In the fall, residents have returned to the neighborhood and my retail (OTC) has also experienced an increase in sales.
I also expanded my product line to include savories - made with ingredients I already had in-house. These products have been well received and I will continue to add new products, both sweet and savory, like soup.
How can our neighborhood support you?
Keep coming in! keep ordering! You can call us on 212.274.8447 to place an order or order online. For ring dings order here.
Do you have a favorite book on baking? Please share.
My favorite books are technical/textbooks: Harold McGee, On Food and Cooking. But I also like popular books that focus on how we live and eat, any books by Michael Pollan and Mark Kurlansky.
When you are not busy at Duane Park Patisserie, what can we find you doing?
Anything outdoors and physical: running, hiking, biking, in-line skating, paddle boarding, fishing, kayaking, skiing, snowshoeing
Thank you!
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