Meet Manuela Milan Vera, a 21-year old pastry chef from Uruguay who studied at the prestigious École Ducasse in France, and is the artist behind the desserts at Milas in Schenectady. Manuela (“Ella”) talks to us about creative risks, rock climbing + the power of saying yes.

INTEL: Little City Luncheonette is open on New Scotland Ave in Albany with comfort specials, breakfast cocktails + two familiar young chefs. We dropped in for stacked pancakes, breakfast cocktails + matzo ball soup to get the early dish.

Chef Miles Murphy talks Jamaican bickle, X-box, discovering the sweet side of culinary + becoming chef de cuisine at 21-years old.