Norman Love Confections is pleased to announce the hiring of Chef Thomas Baduel in the role of pastry chef for the company. Baduel brings more than 16 years of experience in the pastry industry, with a background in management and menu development. As pastry chef at Norman Love Confections, Baduel is responsible for producing assorted European cakes and individual gourmet pastries each day, developing and implementing training programs for new staff members and is involved in all stages of the creation of new products from development to retail.
“Chef Thomas will be an excellent addition to our team at Norman Love Confections, bringing extraordinary pastry skill and knowledge to our company,” said Norman Love, founder and owner of Norman Love Confections. “With his expertise and passion for our industry, Thomas’ leadership and experience will enhance our assortment of gourmet pastries and aid in the development of new products while maintaining the high-quality products our customers expect.”
Originally from France, Baduel began his career at the famed French National Culinary School in Souillac, focusing on the craft of pastry-making and plated dessert specialization. Fluent in French, English and Spanish, Baduel has worked for a variety of restaurants and pastry shops in France, Spain and the U.S. Before choosing to further his education at the French Pastry School of Chicago, Baduel worked as a pastry chef for the Crowne Plaza in Toulouse, France and Bubo, a pastry shop in Barcelona, Spain.
Prior to joining Norman Love Confections, he served as executive pastry chef at Nobu, a highly recognized Japanese restaurant in Miami, where he was responsible for creating seasonal menus, hiring, training and providing mentorship to pastry chefs, while overseeing the training of destination restaurants and consulting for Nobu Bahamas, Dallas and Las Vegas.
About Norman Love Confections
Founded in 2001 by Norman and Mary Love, Norman Love Confections creates and distributes handcrafted artisanal chocolates from its corporate headquarters at 11380 Lindbergh Blvd. in Fort Myers, Florida. The award-winning Fort Myers-based chocolatier has been lauded more than a dozen times by a leading consumer ratings magazine, including recognition six times for producing the best ultra-premium chocolates in the nation. Forbes.com included Norman Love Confections BLACK line on its list of the nation’s top 10 truffles; The Huffington Post listed it among the six best U.S. destinations in its Chocolate Lover’s Travel Guide; and USA Today named Love as one of its top 10 entrepreneurs for 2014. Love has recently been named as the inaugural inductee of Dessert Professional Magazine’s Chocolatier Hall of Fame, partnered with local chefs to present a six-course meal at the James Beard House in New York and Norman Love Confections was ranked among the top 10 shops in the world for chocolate lovers by U.K. media outlet Daily Telegraph.
Norman Love Confections has Chocolate Salons in Fort Myers, Estero and Naples, and Artisan Gelato by Norman Love is next door to the Fort Myers salon, off Daniels Parkway east of I-75. Chocolates, gift baskets, sipping chocolate and Love’s book, “Artistry in Chocolate, A Story of Love,” also can be ordered online at www.normanloveconfections.com. In addition, Norman Love Confections chocolates and desserts are offered on 18 Princess Cruises’ ships through the “Chocolate Journeys” partnership and at independent retail locations throughout the U.S. For more information visit www.normanloveconfections.com or call 239-561-7215.
