Tracy Dempsey

While as comfortable trussing a chicken as she is decorating a cake, Tracy Dempsey’s passion is dessert. After a former career teaching French and ESL at several universities, Tracy decided to switch gears and delve into the alluring world of the culinary arts. Whisks, spatulas and clogs soon replaced the ever-present red ink pen, office hours and classroom wardrobe. Tracy has had the on-going honor of working for some of the Valley’s premier chefs. Her early career found her working in some of the Valley’s best restaurants including Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn, Restaurant Hapa, Gregory’s World Bistro, Cowboy Ciao, Kazimierz, Sea Saw and Digestif. In 2009, Tracy decided to try her hand at her own business.  Tracy Dempsey Originals was launched as a producer of wholesale packaged confections and baked goods. Our signature sweet is The Original Bacon Pecan Brittle which was first produced in 2004 when Tracy was the pastry chef at Cowboy Ciao in Scottsdale. Since venturing on her own, Tracy has found a niche as pastry chef to several Valley restaurants. She has focused on producing desserts and confections with a twist on familiar favorites.

Currently, TDO desserts may be found at Nook Arcadia, Nook Downtown, Uncle Sal’s, AZ88 and Nonna Urban Eatery. Look for TDO confections at Changing Hands Bookstore, Botanica and the Farm at South Mountain, Sphinx Date Company Palm & Pantry, Garage-East, Callaghan Vineyards, Dos Cabezas Winery in Sonoita. An evolving menu of baked goods, confections and savory items may also be found in the TDO retail shop co-located with ODV Wines (her husband’s wine project) at 1325 West University Drive in Tempe and open Thursday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (TH) and 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. (Friday and Saturday)

Tracy is an active member and secretary of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI)-Phoenix Chapter and a board member of The Joy Bus a 501-c-3 non-profit organization whose mission is to provide meals to homebound cancer patients as well as the Blue Watermelon Project. Most days you will find Tracy working in her kitchen, teaching hands-on baking and cooking classes or greeting guests who visit her store front to pick up desserts, wines and other local items. She enjoys sharing her passion for the culinary arts with her team in addition to working on behalf of organizations that seek to make this a better community for animals, children and adults alike.