Hello Sorry to interupt this great topic, but I thought I'd put in my $0.02, one for being an aspiring pastry chef, and also for being a female. I couldn't help but try to understand why there are hardly any women pastry chefs that are recognized. I recently joined egullet and I've been doing a lot of reading and also noticed many male names comming up over and over and close to zilch females. I'm curious to know if women, whether in france, US or anywhere in the world really have a chance at being recognized (professionally) as pastry chefs. Right now I am in the process of trying to find an apprenticeship in the field, and I feel extremely discouraged not only to enter a male dominated profession but also without an invitation. Many trades in Canada seem to be "inviting" females to get involved, unfortunately the culinary arts does not seem to be one of them. Is this worldwide, or just in Canada? Milena