Student Spotlight: Tatyana Baker’s Artistic Rise in Baking & Pastry at LCI
Tatyana Baker is in her second semester at the Louisiana Culinary Institute (LCI), where she specializes in the Advanced Baking & Pastry Culinary program. Originally from Mississippi, she graduated from Brookhaven Arts School and briefly attended college in North Arkansas before returning home to be closer to her family. Encouraged by her mother to pursue a career in culinary arts, she enrolled at LCI and quickly discovered a passion for transforming ingredients into edible works of art.
Why Choose Louisiana Culinary Institute
Tatyana’s mother had always admired LCI’s reputation as a top culinary school in the nation and appreciated that it was so close to home. While Tatyana didn’t originally picture herself in a culinary program, the moment she experienced LCI’s hands-on environment, she was hooked. The creative challenges and opportunities quickly made her feel she was in the right place.
Building Culinary Skills Through Hands-On Learning
From mastering bread basics with Chef Colt to exploring creative techniques in Introduction to Baking & Pastry with Chef Ned, Tatyana has embraced every opportunity to learn. She says the instructors don’t just teach—they inspire.
“The chefs here genuinely want you to succeed and give you every tool to make that happen.”
Her work with Chef Colt in leisure classes and with Chef George in team-building events has built her confidence for stepping into the real world after graduation.
Supportive Culinary School Culture and Student Life
Tatyana describes LCI as a place where classmates work together as a team, each person contributing to the group’s success—both in and out of the kitchen. That spirit of teamwork has been just as valuable as the technical skills she’s learned. One of her most memorable moments so far was making pasta completely from scratch. While the process was time-intensive, the reward of seeing the finished product made every step worthwhile.
Culinary School Success and Career Opportunities
Tatyana’s ultimate dream is to open her own bakery, blending artistry and skill to create unique breads and pastries. Her time at LCI has provided her with both the technical foundation and the creative confidence to bring that vision to life. She loves the school so much that once she completes the Baking & Pastry program, she plans to continue her studies in the
Advanced Culinary Arts Culinary program to further expand her culinary expertise.
