Before marrying and starting a family, I pursued my culinary craft as a private chef, leveraging my innate gift for cooking and baking. Word of mouth from celebrity birthday parties and baby showers led me to the kitchens of CBS, where I honed my skills under the directors and writers of Will & Grace, That 70's Show, and Seinfeld. Soon after, I joined Warner Brothers’ private plane catering service, serving stars like Madonna, Tom Cruise, The Rolling Stones, and many others. Alongside this, I founded two companies: Cloud 9 for airplane catering and The Epicurean Life for event catering. My career evolved into overnight shifts for Michael Jackson, menus aboard Marie and Donny Osmond’s airplanes, and a Thanksgiving feast for Jay and Mavis Leno!

 

In 2008, I opened my bakery Sweet by Holly. Within a year of its launch, I was invited to compete on The Food Network’s Cupcake Wars. Applying my sweet and savory expertise, I introduced the first-ever salmon cupcake and achieved more wins than any other contestant (three!), earning national publicity and the title of USA TODAY's "Cupcake Queen." From regular appearances on TV programs like The Daily Buzz and The Katie Couric Show to features in major publications, I continually pushed the boundaries of my career. In 2013, my innovative approach on Cupcake Wars caught the attention of Abrams Books, resulting in the creation of my cookbook Savory Bites: Meals You Can Make in Your Cupcake Pan- a culmination of my culinary adventures. My journey from private chef to cookbook author, a feat I once deemed impossible, was a testament to sheer determination.

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Transforming the humble cupcake tin into a versatile tool for portioning meals, I remained committed to philanthropy through my professional endeavors. At Nemours Hospital, I developed a program addressing childhood diabetes and obesity, teaching practical cooking techniques with donated groceries. In 2013, at the request of the Obama Administration, I proudly supported troops in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba by hosting a mock Cupcake Wars competition as part of the yearly USO Tour. Later, I donated over a million cupcakes to various nonprofit organizations, including the nationwide initiative Girls on the Run, making a tangible difference in many lives.