The giveaway is now closed. Thanks for visiting!
To all my dear readers,
I’m so very excited to unveil what I’ve been working on for the last couple of months – my revamped and redesigned home for Dessert First! This update has been a long time coming: I knew I’d outgrown my old setup a while back, but I didn’t have the time, technical know-how, or temerity to make my dreams materialize. After much encouragement from friends and fellow food bloggers, though, I made it a New Year’s resolution, and here we are!
Many of the changes are designed to better organize the content I’ve created in the last few years of blogging and make it easier for you to find your way around. I’ve finally gotten with the times and have a navigation bar at the top! The recipe index has been updated and my recipes properly categorized. I’ve also created separate sections for San Francisco Bay Area-related items (so those of you coming to SF can find recommendations for sweet spots) and for reviews of cookbooks and baking-related items. This is both a response to my obsessive desire to organize (I always thought I’d have made a great librarian) and reader requests.
There’s still some work left to be done – the conversions page, another reader request, isn’t finished yet. I’m also in the process of implementing a recipe print function so that you easily print any of my recipes. And there’s still other things on my wish list. But since the site has basically gone live (and quite a few of you have made your way here already), I’d like to officially open my doors and welcome you in. Pardon any of the still-settling dust! A huge thank you to the talented folks at Foliovision for helping make this new site a reality. They’ve been fantastic in making the move from Typepad to WordPress a seamless one.
I’m really, really thrilled to have this new sandbox to play in and I hope you’ll all continue to join me here as I bake and eat my way through everything sweet. I apologize that my posting has dropped off while I was making this transition – I know there’s been a dearth of recipes. I started out this site as a way to document my experiments in the kitchen. Along the way, I stumbled into food as a career of sorts: I wrote two cookbooks, did freelance food photography and writing, went to professional food events, and met all manner of amazing and talented people in the food industry. My hope is that this new Dessert First will reflect this expanded universe that baking opened up for me.
That said, I’m always happy to hear from you about what you’d like to see. Please update your links to my site while you’re at it, if you have the chance (although I’ll leave my old site up and it will automatically redirect).
To celebrate the new Dessert First, I’d also like announce a giveaway for all of you: I have a $100 gift card to Williams-Sonoma lighting up my desk and I’d love to send it to one of you. This gift card was given to me courtesy of Williams-Sonoma, who is one of my site affiliates. I’ve always been a fan of Williams-Sonoma and I’m proud to have them on my site. I received a second gift card from them that I used to get a little something for myself; I’ll reveal the purchase in a future post!
Meanwhile, for your chance to win a $100 gift card to Williams-Sonoma,
1. Follow my page on Facebook (Click the cute little “f” icon in the sidebar to the right of this post, and click “Like” to follow my page).
2. Leave a comment on this post.
That’s it! I’ll let this contest run through next Wednesday, April 27 and announce the winner on April 28th. Thanks and good luck, and let me know what you think of the new site!
love,
Anita
Anita Chu, also known as pastrygirl, is a baker, writer, and photographer with a passion for pastry. She trained at Tante Marie's Cooking School and is the author of Field Guide to Cookies, Field Guide to Candy, and Lollipop Love. Anita lives in San Francisco with her husband, daughter, and dog Max. 
Love the new site! Looks great! Especially all the pink 🙂
Williams-Sonoma is one of my fav places too! 🙂
i liked you on facebook, and i love the new site!
I’m excited to see what new things are in store! I love all the yummy recipes that I can find on your site~ :]
love the new look!
Hi Anita,
I love your new site design, and I love Williams-Sonoma too. =)
Love your new site and Williams-Sonoma!
Beautiful new site! I love it. ^_^
Your new sandbox is beautiful Anita… I love the hues of pink! Liked you on FB
Congrats on the new website!! I’m excited to see what else is in store!
I like Williams Sonoma! Look forward to the recipes ! : )
Loving the pink theme! Keep it up and can’t wait to hear more from you soon!
I am you via Facebook ( Elodie Chardon).
But I do not know if this competition(help) is opened to the foreigners. I live in France. I try my luck all the same!
I like you on Facebook and your new site looks amazing! All the best!
Wow! A $100 voucher? That’s incredibly generous. Thanks for all the great recipes 🙂
Hi Anita, I love your website, it’s one of the first pastry blogs I began to visit regularly. Congratualtions on the “new home” and I am looking forward to all the wonderful masterpieces it will host.
liked u on facebook and luv the new look of ur space,..;-)
Did the FB thing and even subscribed by email. I really like the new look!
Lots of goodies to make . . . where to start!!?? Beautiful blog.
The new layout looks great. Can’t wait to try out more recipes!
Love the look of the new site! Going to “like” you on FB!!!
Your new site design is just lovely!
The new site looks great! Congrats!! 🙂
Great giveaway. Thanks.
Congratulations on the new site–it looks great. Looking forward to trying your delicious recipes!
Loving the pink–perfect for Spring!
Congratulations! The new layout looks great! I like how light and feminine it is. Good work 🙂
I “like” you already and so does my page!
Liked you! Congrats on the new site! Looks awesome!
I like it 🙂 It was worth the effort!
I love the new website! We always choose dessert first 🙂 I love making your sweet treats for my son… he’s becoming a big dessert lover at only 16 months old!
Beautiful new set-up! The pink is perfection, indeed! (And I love the pink bowls in the photo…!)
Beautiful site!! I love it – very you!!
Done! The new site is presh! love all the pale pink.
Wow, your blog’s design is really cute, clean and just perfect!!!
My blog is only a few months old and your level of blog seems impossible to reach for me at the moment… My compliments to you.
Love the new layout and the Facebook page!! Your recipes are great and thank you for this awesome blog!!
LOVE the new website! and pining for that $100 gift card 🙂
The new site looks great, it looks easier to navigate too =)
And I love the soft pink color!
Love the new site – so clean and chic! I also love that you have a facebook page now! Thanks so much for sharing your talents with us!
Looking good!
Congrats! Very nice move. Love the feel and usability.
Congratulations on the new website and design. Very pretty in pink. I only found you a few weeks ago; you have some really nice content and some gorgeous shots of it.
Enjoy your new sandbox!
love the new site!
Love the new look! I especially like that your Facebook, etc. icons are pink too. so girlie and cute 🙂
I’m glad you are back ~ I’ve been missing your sweet posts! The new site is very cute!
Love the new layout! Long time follower.
New site looks great! I love the recipe section, so easy to find things.
Congratulations! A new site! A recent marriage! Another book in the works! All the best for continued success in all your sweet endeavours!
It sure looks GOOD!
great new site! looks great
love the new look!
Love the new site design! Liked you on FB as well. =)
Following and love it!!
Congrats. I remember when I revamped my blog (might be due for another actually). Enjoy your new baby. 😉
OMG! The new look is so cute I love it! Also loving all of the pink!
I love, love, love the new look!
the new site looks great!
HellO! Im a local Northern Californianer 🙂 Im in Sonoma County. Love your blog and I have Liked you FB page and just started “following” you on Twitter 🙂
Your food is absolutely stunning and your new layout is so simple, sweet and elegant. Love it all 🙂
Congrats on the new site. Looks great!
Great site! Looking forward to reading your new blog.
looking forward to the new Bay Area sweet spots addition.
Good Luck with everything.
LOVE the new site! So bright, crisp and clean. The pink accents are adorable. Really looks great. 🙂
Congratulations!! on the new page. It is very well designed. I appreciate the print function on the recipe page, thanks. *_*
I’m excited for you – the site looks great! Thanks for offering the giveaway!
I’ve “liked” your FB page for a long time now. I’m glad to say that I have been a fan for a very long time.
I am so glad to see the new website and the exciting things that have been happening with you.
Cheers!
I love the new pink site!!! I’m very happy for your journey so far… I hope many amazing days ahead for you. Thanks for the giveaway chance (April 28th is my birthday) Martina
The new site looks fabulous, Anita! Best wishes 🙂
It is true, your great content really benefits from the new, cleaner design. Good luck with it!
You have always had a great site and now it’s even better! Hopefully the fresh new look will bring on fresh new inspiration for recipes to share with us!
I also really appreciated the SF blog stories….my sister moved there recently and I have been able to give her some insight on some great places to visit.
The new layout and organizational system are beautiful!
Not entering the giveaway, but just wanted to say that your new site design is gorgeous! High five for moving to WordPress! 🙂
new site looks great! and much LOVE for williams-sonoma too! :]
Looks fabulous!
Great job with the site, looks very elegant with the light pink. I follow you on FB.
been following your site for awhile now and i love it! 🙂 thanks!~
Love the colors and thanks for the navigation bar and recipe index.
I like you on facebook and I like the new site! I’ve been too lazy to do this myself, but I can definitely appreciate the enormous amount of effort involved. Great job 😀
YAY! congrats on the new site! It looks all shiny and pretty! I’m so glad you made the jump over. Also I want that $100 gift card please. 😉
Love it! Nice job 🙂
I love the pale pink. It’s understated and soothing.
I like you on FB!!
The sight looks great!! Congrats.
The website looks very sleek and is an awesome update! Keep up the awesome blogging, I hope to make it to San Francisco one day…
Congrats on the new website!
I love the new look!
I like you on facebook! William Sonoma is such a fun store. I love all the nifty stuff
Yay new site! Everything smells so fresh and clean. 🙂
The new site looks great! My husband cringes when we are somewhere with a Williams-Sonoma. Its not so much the money I spend, but the time I spend ooing and awhing over everything.
Congrats on the new site it looks great so far! I love your website and your recipes you inspired me to start my own blog though i’ve gotten so busy with school i haven’t been able to update it in forever!
I really love shopping at Williams Sonoma also! They have the most unique baking tools, and it’s fun to just walk in there and have a look whenever I’m bored! Also liked you on facebook, love the new site by the way! I love the refreshing simple and clean look! 🙂
Like the new site, love all the pink!! Liked you on fb
Love the new design! I also ‘Like’ your Facebook page
I would love some new kitchen equipment from WS! 😀
I “liked” you on facebook. The redesign is great, especially that navigation bar!
Can always use more kitchen implements!
Congrats on your new site. Looks as delicious as your recipes!!
Great new site!
I was so happy when I found your site. I was in my second term in baking and pastry school, and I was feeling a little apprehensive about what my professional life was going to be like after I graduated. I found great inspiration (and some great recipes!) on your website. I return often and love the new look! Just know that you do make a difference! I loved your Field Guide books as well- They weren’t in my budget to purchase, but I did get them from the library and was sad when I had to return them!
Beautiful site and beautiful photos!
http://www.atasteofkoko.com
I love your website!
Congrats on the updated site!The pictures are absolutely gorgeous 🙂
Congratulations! May the new site bring you much recipe inspiration!
Congratulations on the updated site. Looking forward to looking at the recipes and cookbooks.
Your new site looks beautiful, definitly worth the wait.
It’s beautiful!
Beautiful new site! I’d love to see a ‘favorites’ category for your recipes 🙂
I’ve been a reader for a long time and I’ve read about your baking (and baking related) adventures. It’s an inspiration and I’m very happy to see your blog blossom!. Keep sharing delicious things with us.
I visit your site every day looking for more tempting nibbles – thank you for your inspiration and looking forward to seeing your new site through the launch! Best wishes…
Just found your site and I am a new fan!
congrats on your newlook..!!!!
Nice website! I look foward to your future posts. 🙂
love williams sonoma!!
Just stumbled across your site recently and must say that I love it 🙂 Do you take the photos yourself? They are all lovely@
Yum! I love your recipes.
Hurrah! Looks great Anita. 🙂
LOVEE your site :] keep it up!
I love the new site! 😀
very exciting….congrats!
Love the re-design, and I’m looking forward to that print layout, too.
Awesome new site, Anita! It looks lovely! And easily navigable!
liked on Facebook! good job!
Yes Please!
Hi,
Trying my luck at the gift card. Love the site!
“Liked” on FB! 🙂 Congrats for the new site, it’s truly beautiful!! Keep the great recipes coming! 🙂
I just right this very minute, whew, discovered your site. So, I can’t say what I like better, yet. But what I’ve seen so far has been lovely. Good luck with your new website!
Lots of hard work!! Looks great, looking forward to accessing your yummy recipes. Love the fresh look. Oh, and enter me in for a chance at your give away.
Love the new look! Especially all the pink 🙂
Great Site! Great Giveaway!
This is a beautiful site. So clean and fresh, I can almost smell the butter. Sharon
Just found your site- love it already! The design is beautiful!
Congratulations! It’s very pretty and hopefully your creativity can now be as free here as in the kitchen 😀
Always enjoy visiting your site. Looking forward to being able to find the recipes easier and try lots of them!
I liked your page on Facebook. Love the new site!
wow i haven’t read your blog since….. i think it was 2005? 😛 still amazing, still inspiring!
Lovely site, lovely subject. Can’t wait to dive in!
Beautiful! I look forward to exploring the new site – perhaps I’ll do the same to my own blog someday!
Hurray! Welcome to the WordPress family! I work for Automattic (WordPress.com) so I’m super excited about your migration. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Can’t wait to see what you do next!
I can’t wait to go to Williams Sonoma, thanks in advance! 😉
everything looks lovely! so glad to have found you while looking for new recipes!
Just found your site, and while I didn’t see it before the revamp, I can say I love it now 🙂 Looking forward to more!
The design is so feminine and the whole page works together so nicely!
The new design looks great! I love the ‘d’ that pops up in your web address.
Following you on Facebook – love the blog!!
susitravl(at)gmail(dot)com
The pale pink curvy lines in the banner are especially adorable. Good work!
(Also every time I go into Williams Sonoma, someone says “Can I help you, sir?” even though I grew out my hair and wear skirts.)
love your site and liked you on facebook! 🙂
I “liked” you on fb! I would LOVE love love the w-s giftcard. almost as much as I love your new look. its’ so girly and so cute. awesome job – happy easter too.
I love the new page!
I don’t have a fb, but I would definitely follow if I did! Love your blog and hope I can still be considered for the prize 🙂
Love the new site!!
Great layout on the website, Anita!
Loved the new site and will be following your new web page with interest.
I’m really enjoying your new layout – it looks fantastic!
Congratulations on your site site Anita-it looks great (and pretty-pretty & tastey)!!!!
Love your new site. And I love, love, love williams Sonoma!!
Lovely layout and design!
I liked you on FB!
The site looks adorable- I love the look!
Just found your site! Love the photography and can’t wait to learn a few new things.
love this new layout! Can’t wait to see what new recipes you’ll be posting.
Love the new design – so fresh and pretty!
Love your website!
Love the new site! So beautiful & clean!
Love the new layout of the website!
I just found your blog! and now I want to try some of the yummy recipes!
Recently got married and $100 gift card to Williams-Sonoma WOW!! would supply my kitchen with some lovely bakeware! 🙂
LOVE the new site and colors! 🙂
Can’t wait for the new recipe section – and print outs, too!!!
Hi…this is wonderful; just discovered the website and wish you the best. I’m very impressed!!!
I’ve been following your old website since meeting you at Tante Marie, and most definitely will continue to visit your new one often! You are truly amazing (to find the time) to post such interesting stories/adventures and to share your fabulous receipes with us — thank you very much!
Looks great, Anita! Count me in for the gift card raffle!
Thank you for this lovely offer. I love treats!! I love your site and love checking up on things.
I love your new sight. I’m already a fan on FB.
congratulations!
Liked ! I just discovered your page, really excited to look around. 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway! I’m a new Facebook fan!
I’m a facebook fan! I’m glad I discovered the blog while you had two giveaways going. Double bonus from an awesome blog!
The website looks very exciting. Congratulations.
Yes! Love the new site, much more organized!!
I absolutely LOVE the new look! Perfect!!
Everything looks so great and tasty, I wish I could cook better, but with your ideas and your blog it could be possible for me now. Thank you 🙂 KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
LOVE the look of your new site!