Leslie Bilderback is a classically trained chef, Certified Master Baker (CMB), culinary instructor, food writer, and culinary historian. She received her classical culinary training at the California Culinary Academy, and worked in several well-regarded restaurants, including Postrio in San Francisco, and most recently the Michelin starred N/Naka in Los Angeles. She was executive chef for Le Cordon Bleu America, taught in the LA Unified School District's Nutrition Network program, and taught culinary arts for the U.S. Navy. She won Food Network's Sweet Genius (season 3, episode 9, "Dream-Catching Genius"). She's written many cookbooks and writes a monthly food column in Arroyo Magazine.