Michelle Tampakis

Teaches at The Institute of Culinary Education

Michelle Tampakis has been teaching at ICE for over 25 years, and is the school's resident expert on chocolate and gluten-free baking. She studied hotel and restaurant management at Bergen Community College and culinary arts at the Culinary Institute of America. She went on to work with ICE Director of Pastry & Baking Arts Nick Malgieri at Windows on the World. She began teaching at ICE in 1986 and she has continued to compete in international pastry competitions, winning awards and honing her skills in showpiece creation. She's used her expertise to head up ICE's participation in numerous events and TV shows — you may have seen on her an episode of Food Network Challenge. In 2010, she was named one of the Top Ten Pastry Chefs by Dessert Professional. After more than 25 years in the industry, she was diagnosed with celiac disease and has thrown herself into learning everything I can about gluten-free baking and the food allergy–restricted world. She describes her culinary voice as an emphasis on “pastry as a time-honored craft. Discipline, respect for the ingredients and genuine professionalism are the key points I try to influence students with. My belief is in discipline, respect for the ingredients, not wasting food, materials or time. I apply that to every thing I cook or bake.”