Chef Biography
Ann Dunbar had no formal training, but always worked in a restaurant, either as a bartender, server, or hostess. Her sister worked in the kitchen for Chef Paul Prudhomme at K-Paul’s in New Orleans, and in 1983, Ann applied to Chef Paul. He wanted her to cook instead of working in front of the house, thinking that her sister was a good pastry chef in his kitchen and it might run in the family. It did! She worked under Chef Paul for five intense years. In 1991 she left to do some catering and consult for Al Copeland (founder of Popeye’s) and his new restaurant chain, Copeland’s.
In 1992, Great Chef Emeril Lagasse was opening his second restaurant, NOLA, and she wrote him a letter inquiring about a position, and he hired her as pastry chef at his NOLA Restaurant. In October 1993, the Great Chefs television team showed up to tape Chef Dunbar for the Discovery Channel’s new Great Chefs series, the Louisiana New Garde, where she appeared in episode # 22.
In 1996, she opened her own gourmet bakery, Anna Banana, and ran that for several years, before retiring to raise a family.
Recipes
Coconut Pots de Cremes with Coconut-Almond Snaps
Serving: 4 Print Coconut Pots de Cremes with Coconut-Almond Snaps By Great Chefs November 9, 2015 Pastry Chef Ann Dunbar tucks both toasted and untoasted coconut into her pots de crèmes and then accompanies them with coconut-almond cookies. Both recipes are fairly simple for the home cook. The pots de crèmes are simply baked custards, […]