History of Chrissy’s Cheesecakes & Personal Desserts
Hello, my name is Christine “Chrissy” Genova. I am a Certified Personal Dessert Chef and Dessert Caterer. I currently rent commercial kitchen space out of One World Kitchen, located at 615 Spice Island Drive #4, Sparks, NV 89431. One World Kitchen is a shared facility operated by caterers, personal chefs, candy makers, etc. I am fully licensed in Washoe County, City of Reno and City of Sparks. I am a Certified Food Protection Manager through the Washoe County Health District.
I have always been passionate about cooking and baking since I was very young. My mom inspired me in the kitchen. She was and still is a great cook at her home. Growing up, I enjoyed watching my mom bake delicious brownies and cookies for the PTA, catering the Parker Dam Elementary Halloween Carnival for several years and creating beautiful wedding cakes for a few of our friends.
At the age of 12, I was watching the chefs on PBS like Julia Childs, Jeff Smith (The Frugal Gourmet), and Martin Yan (Yan Can Cook) create and explain their incredible dishes. I would get inspired and create gourmet omelets and crepes of my own design in our kitchen. My family loved eating what I prepared. I helped my mom with her delicious apple pies, breads, candies and cookies at Thanksgiving and Christmas for many years.
I have been baking my cheesecakes and desserts for friends and family for more than 25 years. Some of the recipes I offer on my dessert menu were handed down to me from my mom. Serving my creations to anyone and seeing their happy faces as they eat my food, is the best part of my business.
Before officially starting my dessert business, I was very busy being a mom and housewife but still found time to create decadent desserts for friends and family to enjoy. Two of our three daughters had spinal fusion surgery in July 2014 to correct their severe Scoliosis. That put my dream on hold for a few months, as I needed to stay at home and nurse them back to health. All of my friends and family have encouraged me to go out on my own and start a name for myself. Now that our daughters are older, and the girls are healing nicely after surgery, I have the freedom to do that. I have worked in the restaurant business for nearly 20 years and graduated from Scottsdale Culinary Institute (Le Cordon Bleu) in 1997 with an Associates Degree in Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management. I got pregnant with my first daughter a few months into the culinary program. I prayed about which direction I should choose and knew that if I didn’t finish my schooling, something would stop me from finishing. I didn’t give up with following my dream. My daughter Sienna was born 5 weeks after my last day of culinary school. I had to wait to receive my degree and finished my required externship hours at Health Zone Café in Temecula, CA a year and a half later. Since then I have worked for several restaurants and catering companies over the past 17 years, as a baker, line cook, prep cook, and bakery cashier, including Josef’s Vienna Bakery and The Dish Café in Reno, NV.
As a personal dessert chef and dessert caterer, I bake all desserts to order. You may pick up your desserts at One World Kitchen (I need to be there as it is not a public establishment). I can also deliver your desserts and set them up at your birthday party, wedding, anniversary party, meeting, private dinner or luncheon. I offer a wide variety of gourmet cheesecakes and decadent desserts for everyone to enjoy, including those with special dietary concerns (i.e., Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Fat and Vegan).
For catering large events, there will be a signed contract after we meet to discuss what is needed to create that perfect event. I require 50% of the total cost up front and the final payment paid in full prior to the event. I purchase the ingredients needed for your desserts, take them to my commercial kitchen, bake, decorate them and deliver to your event. I display the desserts for you, set them up on decorative trays and have them ready in time for your event. There will be plenty of desserts for all your guests to enjoy, including those who have special dietary requests. My assistant or I will stay to keep the desserts displayed and then clean up.
I look forward to serving you and your guests in the near future.
Thank you and God Bless,
Christine “Chrissy” Genova,
Owner and Certified Dessert Caterer
Chrissy’s Cheesecakes & Personal Desserts
(775) 842-3177