​Story by Tracy Nicholson
Photography by M.Schleif Photography, catering photo by Fernweh + Liebe, café food photo by Maria Slette

When Nichole Hensen opened her pastry shop in Downtown Fargo's Block #8 in 2003, she couldn't have begun to imagine the big impact her small-batch baked goods would make. Sixteen years later, Hensen is well-known and celebrated as the region's premier pastry chef. Specializing in traditional European and classic American favorites, Nichole's Fine Pastry is a local sweet-spot for savory bites, delicate desserts and steaming espresso. Hoping to find her secret recipe for success, we headed to her home on Fargo's historic eighth street where she treated us to a French favorite - salade nicoise, and a classic strawberry shortcake recipe with a Midwestern twist.  ​

With holiday excitement in the air and a bun in the oven (due in March), Molly Yeh debuted the big news last month, during the premiere of her second season of Food Network’s show, Girl Meets Farm. Filmed in the home she shares with her husband Nick Hagen, a fifth-generation farmer in East Grand Forks, this local food blogger has been stirring up the food scene since 2009. Since her number one fans are right here in the Midwest, we reached out to Yeh to help us kick off our holiday baking with a fresh take on an old favorite, brown sugar cookies.