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Paula Stakelum
Paula Stakelum, known as Paula Pastry across social media, has built an exceptional career in pastry and chocolate. Originally from Thurles, County Tipperary, her passion began during a transition year work placement at a local hotel, leading her to formal training at Cork Institute of Technology and a BA in Culinary Arts from Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.
Her career took shape at The Ardilaun Hotel in Galway, where she served as Head Pastry Chef for five years. In 2010, she joined the five-star Ashford Castle as Executive HeadPastry Chef, earning international recognition for desserts inspired by the Irish landscape. By 2017, she became Resort Pastry Chef for both Ashford Castle and The Lodge at Ashford, overseeing pastry operations across the resort.
In 2018, Paula represented Ireland as a finalist in the Valrhona C3 International Pâtisserie Competition in New York. Sustainability, storytelling, and a deep connection to nature remain central to her work.
Now Global Director of Chocolate & Pâtisserie for Red Carnation Hotels, Paula leads innovation across 18 luxury properties worldwide. She collaborated with Mrs. BeatriceTollman to create Legend, a bespoke chocolate developed with Valrhona using sustainably sourced African cacao—continuing her mission to create memorable, meaningful pastry experiences.
Sessions
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Live cooking demo: An Irish pastry story from Ashford Castle30-Mar-2026HRC - Pastry HQ in partnership with Chef Publishing
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