Fany Gerson: How a Pastry Chef Melds Cultures Through Donuts

Fany Gerson's Culinary Journey

• 💡 Fany Gerson, a James Beard semi-finalist, creates unique donuts that are a "pastry with a purpose."
• 🇲🇽 Born in Mexico City and trained in both Mexico and the US, Gerson infuses her creations with a blend of cultures.
• 📚 Her journey began over a decade ago, sharing recipes through her cookbooks, starting with "My Sweet Mexico."

The Art of Donut Making

• 🍩 Gerson finds joy in making donuts, seeing them as a way to bring instant happiness to people.
• 🎨 She views donuts as a canvas to explore the diverse cultures that make New York City rich.
• 🧪 The dough itself is inspired by her Mexican heritage, often made with a Mexican cinnamon tea seasoning.

Global Flavors in Every Bite

• 🥭 The Mango Lassie donut reimagines an Indian dessert drink with yogurt glaze and pistachios.
• 👵 The Ledona donut is inspired by her grandmother, featuring baked meringue, edible cornflowers, and a raspberry-black currant glaze.
• 🇵🇪 A cream cheese filled donut stick with a Latin flare is topped with a guava glaze and brown butter walnut crumble.
• 🇯🇵 A donut filled with Japanese yuzu curd is rolled in lemon sugar, offering a twist on lemon meringue.

Fan Fan Donuts' Philosophy

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Gerson shares three businesses with her husband, Daniel Ortiz de Montiano: La New Yorkina (ice pops), Miho (Mexican street food), and Fan Fan Donuts.
• 🌟 She aims to explore different cultures through her donuts, bringing them to life in each bite.
• 🤝 Gerson hopes to share Mexican hospitality through her bakery, creating an experience filled with music, smiles, and joy.
• ✨ Each donut is a creation of magic, intended to be a highlight of a customer's day.