Kim Teaches Classes at The Sweet Chalet in Sanford, FL

SANFORD, FL. Kim M. Simons—winner of Food Network’s “Holiday Wars” this past December—takes a deep breath in the warm morning sun on Monday, February 10.

“I could get used to this,” Simons, a resident of upstate NY—where it is snowing—cracks.

Simons, part of the team Bah Hum Bakers—the reigning “Holiday Wars” champions—is in town to teach classes at The Sweet Chalet on Bellagio Circle at the invitation of fellow cake artist Maressa Valentin-Rivera.

Valentin-Rivera, who—with her husband, Sam—opened The Sweet Chalet in 2016, is no stranger to TV herself.“The Food Network has filmed here,” Valentin-Rivera notes, “plus HGTV. And a travel agency in Germany picked us as an artistic destination on their tours.

”For Valentin-Rivera, booking Simons to teach classes is a no-brainer.“She has a great deal of passion,” Valentin-Rivera explains, “and it comes through in her teaching. She’s very expressive, and it shows in her work.

”Classes are held in a spacious studio upstairs in The Sweet Chalet. Previous instructors have included Chef Nicholas Lodge, London’s own Jacquie Kelly, and “Halloween Wars” reigning champion Reva Alexander.

Oh, and wiz-kid Jarid Altmark—who has competed on Food Network programs several times himself—works at the store as well.

Simons’ mission at The Sweet Chalet? To show the basics of painting with Royale Icing…and to teach how to sculpt a Woodstock-inspired “Hippy Hare” out of modeling chocolate.

For Valentin-Rivera, the combination of hosting classes and dealing in retail products has resulted in success.

“We have had visitors from the Philippines, Sweden, The United Kingdom, Nigeria, Australia, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, and the Caribbean islands of Puerto Rico, Vieques, Aruba, and the Dominican Republic,” her website notes.More recently, The Sweet Chalet has ventured into creating delicious Canelé pastries—a 200-year old French tradition brought home to Sanford.

Simons, for her part, hopes to make teaching at The Sweet Chalet something of a tradition.”

“It’s a great store run by great people,” Simons explains. “Plus, who wouldn’t want to be in Sanford when it’s snowing at home?”For more information on classes and products, check out The Sweet Chalet’s website (www.thesweetchalet.com) or call 331-363-4841.