At Just Desserts, an Iron Chef competitor assists, a well-established food maven contributes...

...Here's more about Julie Fiedler and Heidi Lee.

Getting Our Just Desserts, November 20 at the Art Institute of Phoenix, will showcase sweets and savories from around two dozen top women chefs from across Arizona.

Julie Fiedler, Iron Chef Competitor

A C-CAP graduate, Julie Fiedler holds a degree in culinary management from the Art Institute of Phoenix. Besides competing in the Food Network’s Iron Chef America series, she’s also competed in FHC in Shanghai, and The Big Cooking Contest in Innsbruck, Austria. She’s a top assistant with Getting Our Just Desserts, 2010.

How she got her start: “It was an accident! I loved to cook, and went to EVIT just to see what it would be like. Once I experienced working in a professional kitchen, I knew that was where I wanted to be.”

What she loves about it: “Being able to create something delicious that looks beautiful on the plate – it makes people happy.”

How the industry’s changed: “There are definitely a lot more women entering the industry – and I believe we are beginning to garner more respect.”

What the future holds for women chefs: “There are going to be more and more women in professional kitchens. Our competition team is mostly women!”

Heidi Lee, Into the Soup

Founder and owner of Into the Soup, Heidi Lee and her company educate and entertain with food and travel through all media channels. She promotes professionalism in the culinary arts through her support of chefs and chef-driven businesses and through regular appearances on radio and television.

How she got her start: “I was the only one among my friends in college who knew how to cook. Then I learned I really love being in the kitchen.”

What she loves about it: “I discovered early on it was possible to make boys like me when I cooked.” Seriously? “Well, I also found I loved being in the kitchen and hosting and teaching others, too.”

How the industry’s changed: “I think women are more accepted, but it’s still a man’s world. Women are, though, beginning to move into management.”

What the future holds for women chefs: “There’s still only one chick in the Iron Chef line-up. But there are more opportunities – and tons of women in pastry.”

Next: Charleen Badman of FnB dishes a little, Sally McCarty, too.