I’m Eden Passante, the founder of Sugar & Charm, a recipe developer, baker, entertaining expert, author, food photographer, and television personality based in Los Angeles.
I’ve spent the past 16 years developing and testing recipes, baking, styling and photographing food, and sharing my expertise in effortless entertaining. What started as a place to share my love of food and entertaining has grown into a collection of hundreds of recipes, with a special focus on baking, desserts, seasonal recipes, and approachable ideas for entertaining at home.
I have a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from California State University, Northridge, where I studied food science, nutrition, food management, textiles, family studies, and other areas of home and family life.
I founded Sugar & Charm in 2010, and since then my recipes and entertaining ideas have been featured by Food Network, Martha Stewart, The Wall Street Journal, Better Homes & Gardens, Real Simple, House Beautiful, CNN, SAVEUR, Domino, Hallmark’s Home & Family, KTLA, and more.
I’m also the author of Entertaining with Charm and the former host of Food Network’s digital entertaining series Party Crushing.
My Experience & Credentials
- 17+ years of professional recipe development, baking and pastry, food photography, styling, and entertaining content as the founder of Sugar & Charm.
- B.S. in Home Economics from California State University, Northridge, with education in food science, nutrition, food management, textiles, family studies, finance, and child development.
- Author of Entertaining with Charm, a 240-page cookbook and entertaining guide published by Weldon Owen and distributed by Simon & Schuster.
- Entertaining with Charm became an Amazon #1 bestseller in Party Food and Cooking Reference.
- Host of Food Network’s Party Crushing, an original digital series dedicated to recipes, cocktails, parties, and entertaining.
- Martha Stewart Circle member, contributing to and participating in Martha Stewart’s network of creators.
- SAVEUR Blog Awards nominee for Best Entertaining Blog.
- Named one of Domino’s Top 10 Entertaining Blogs.
- Lifetime Moms contributor, creating original lifestyle and entertaining content.
- Television and streaming appearances sharing recipes and entertaining ideas, including Hallmark’s Home & Family, The Sabrina Soto Show on Hulu, Extra, and KTLA.
- Partnered with Williams Sonoma for entertaining features and the launch of Entertaining with Charm, including a multi-city book tour.
- Collaborated with hundreds of leading food, home, and lifestyle brands including Williams Sonoma, Crate & Barrel, Target, Macy’s, Pinterest, Etsy, Vitamix, and more.
Baking & Recipe Development Expertise
I’ve been professionally developing and testing recipes for Sugar & Charm since 2010. Today, much of my work centers around baking and desserts, from cakes, cookies, breads, muffins, and baked donuts to pies, seasonal desserts, and classic recipes made for the home baker. I also create cocktails and drinks, seasonal recipes, and easy food and ideas for entertaining.
My Home Economics education gave me a foundation in food science, nutrition, and food management, while more than 16 years of hands-on recipe development and baking has taught me the details that make recipes work in a real home kitchen.
Every baking recipe I publish is developed with the home baker in mind. I pay close attention to texture, flavor, ingredient ratios, baking times, and the small techniques that can make the difference between a recipe that simply works and one you’ll want to make again.
I share those details throughout my recipes: how a batter or dough should look and feel, visual cues for doneness, techniques that make a difference, substitutions I’ve tested, troubleshooting tips, and what I’ve learned from making a recipe again and again.
I’ve also continued my culinary education throughout my career, taking hands-on cooking and baking classes around the world. My experiences have included baking classes at Le Cordon Bleu in Los Angeles, learning to make Levain’s iconic chocolate chip cookies inside the Levain Bakery kitchen in the Hamptons, traditional baking in a seaside cottage in Ireland, Mexican cooking classes in Mexico City, working with seasonal fruit and berries at a culinary school in Napa Valley, and studying pie making with Kate McDermott, author of Art of the Pie.
My Book: Entertaining with Charm
I’m the author of Entertaining with Charm, a 240-page cookbook and entertaining guide published by Weldon Owen and distributed by Simon & Schuster.
The book features my original recipes, cocktails, menus, and ideas for creating beautiful but approachable gatherings at home. It became an Amazon #1 bestseller in Party Food and Cooking Reference and launched with a multi-city book tour in partnership with Williams Sonoma.
Food Network & Television
I hosted Food Network’s digital series Party Crushing, where I created complete gatherings featuring my original recipes, cocktails, décor, styling, and entertaining ideas.
I’ve also appeared on national television and streaming programs sharing recipes and entertaining ideas, including Hallmark’s Home & Family, The Sabrina Soto Show on Hulu, Extra, and KTLA.
Awards, Press & Recognition
My work and Sugar & Charm have been recognized or featured by:
Food Network · Martha Stewart · The Wall Street Journal · Better Homes & Gardens · Real Simple · House Beautiful · CNN · SAVEUR · Domino · Williams Sonoma · Hallmark · KTLA
Sugar & Charm was nominated for Best Entertaining Blog at the SAVEUR Blog Awards and named one of Domino’s Top 10 Entertaining Blogs.
A Little More About Me
I live in Los Angeles with my husband, two boys, and our pets Bella and Luffy. When I’m not working on Sugar & Charm, I love gardening, horseback riding, traveling, decorating, and, naturally, having friends over.
After 16 years, I still believe the best entertaining isn’t about perfection. It’s about good food, a great drink, thoughtful details, and making people feel welcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics and have worked professionally in recipe development, food photography, content creation, and entertaining since founding Sugar & Charm in 2010.
I earned a B.S. in Home Economics from California State University, Northridge, where I studied food science, nutrition, food management, and related subjects. I’ve also spent years continuing my culinary education through hands-on cooking, baking, and cocktail classes around the world. From baking at Le Cordon Bleu in Los Angeles and learning in the Levain Bakery kitchen in the Hamptons to cooking classes in Mexico City and an intimate baking class in a seaside cottage in Ireland, I’m always learning new techniques and bringing that knowledge back to the recipes I develop for Sugar & Charm.
Yes. I’ve been developing and testing original recipes for Sugar & Charm since 2010. I specialize in baking, desserts, cocktails, drinks, and approachable recipes for entertaining.
Yes. I’m the author of Entertaining with Charm: A Modern Guide to Relaxed Gatherings, published by Weldon Owen and distributed by Simon & Schuster.
I hosted Food Network’s digital series Party Crushing and have appeared on national television and streaming programs sharing recipes and entertaining ideas, including Hallmark’s Home & Family, The Sabrina Soto Show on Hulu, Extra, and KTLA.
