Best Educational Baking Establishment - USA

Headed by Marda Stoliar, the International School of Baking is a school designed to meet the needs of every student regardless of experience. Isabella Bueso Flefil talks us through Marda’s drive and determination and how these have played a key part in making the school the leader it is today.

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Established in 1985, the culinary school has been training beginners and professional chefs in the culinary art of baking. Founder Marda Stoliar is a lady of the world, and has been all around the globe, experiencing different cultures and tastes. These diverse cultures have given her the opportunity to be able to adjust to any situation and to adapt to the culture of her students.
 
Her teaching method is one in which she connects with her students and culture, permitting her to experiment with her recipes due to the different environments her students are living in. Marda also knows her equipment very well, and some situations have made her have to think outside the box to solve the issue presented to her. She was in China trying to teach her students how to make lemon curd, working above a place with pork rendering plants, when she noticed her copper cauldron had a significant hole in the bottom. To solve this prominent issue Marda placed very hot fire underneath the hole, which prevented the liquid from spilling out of the cauldron. To top it all off she did not have something to stir the curd with, so she went out to the streets and paid a women twenty US dollars for her broom handle. 

After flaming the handle to make it clean, Marda was able to stir the curd and finish teaching her students how to make a fantastic lemon curd. In some cases, Marda has not been able to speak the language of her students, yet she manages to teach them by hand movements and gestures. She knows this method works as she learned how to make a ton of different types of bread in Venice, Italy speaking little to no Italian. Marda has also taught in situations in where people’s personalities and culture are a mix, in these circumstances.
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Ultimately, Marda makes sure her students thrive by inspiring competence and confidence in them. Inspiring her students is something pivotal in Marda’s way of teaching; this is because she feels her success should be measured by her student’s success. To this day Marda continues to teach around the world and inspire people to become a better version of themselves.