Reno Food: Reno Provisions and a Morning with its Pastry Chef

Baking, like Monday mornings, is not my strong suit.

So when I learned that Reno Provisions’ executive pastry chef does demos on Saturday mornings at the test kitchen-esque setting in the back room of Mark Estee’s newest project in downtown Reno, I had to go. I have a natural affinity with Dutch people in general, being romantically involved with one for years now, so Chef Maarten van Kruyssen’s cultural roots was part of the draw.

Chef Maarten is a fourth generation baker hailing from a small town in Holland. He has been a baker for far longer than I have been alive. Having been inculturated into Dutch traditions by virtue of exposure and multiple visits to the country, I understand that bread is central to the Dutch identity. Having a master here locally with echte bakker in his DNA is a big deal (to us, at least).

Chef Maarten worked skillfully whipping up some Italian butter cream that he would lather and then pipe onto the waiting red velvet cake that he had made the previous night. And although this wasn’t meant to be a cooking class per se, one is still able to learn small tips and tricks by watching him in action. It's like watching the Food Channel - except it's interactive and it's live.

Chef Maarten does free demos on Saturday mornings at 10:30 AM at Reno Provisions. Check the website for schedules. The prior week, he made speculoos cookies and the weekend of Easter on April 4th is easter cookie decorating from 12PM-3PM.

Eet smakelijk!

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You can custom order cakes by Chef Maarten at Reno Provisions. They are located at 100 N. Sierra, Reno, NV. More details are on their website here.

And speaking of Reno Provisions, have you been?

It's a cafeteria-cum-test kitchen-cum-market-cum-bar at 100 North Sierra in downtown Reno. There are fresh baked pastries by Chef Maarten and if there's one thing I learned about my Dutch boyfriend is that Dutch apple tarts are the best in the world. So grab one of those. You won't be disappointed.

Otherwise, if you're in the area and starving for an unfussy, tasty and healthy lunch, this is your spot!

And if you want to recreate your favorite Campo Italian pizza and pasta at home, you can get a headstart on that attempt by shopping for your ingredients right where they're made - pizza dough, fresh pasta, pasta sauces. I wouldn't mind taking a crack at that thin crust pizza at home one of these days!

#renotahoe