Esther Kang is the type of girl you want to have in your crew. Not only was the LA native and former lawyer a contestant on FOX's MasterChef (she got voted off last week), she's also the founder of one of my favorite booths at LA Food Fest, cookie company Batch From Scratch. I got a chance to chat with Esther about her reality TV gig, why she left law for cookies, and her favorite dessert spots in LA.

PSLA: How did you get involved with MasterChef?
EK: My friend forwarded an email about the MasterChef auditions being held in LA so I decided to just go for it. I thought that if nothing happened I would still have fun trying out and be able to say that I tried.


PSLA: Talk a little bit about Batch From Scratch. How did it all start?
EK: In 2010, I quit my job as an entertainment attorney at a large LA law firm to pursue my passion in food. I was at a great firm, was practicing the type of law I wanted to be practicing, but I couldn't imagine myself at 50 and content that I spent my life as an attorney, even if I was an equity partner. I knew that I didn't have the resources to open a full-fledged restaurant or a retail store, so I decided to do something small and personal so I could learn the ropes and hopefully gain more capital for bigger ventures in the future. I just needed to start somewhere.

Why cookies? When I'm pressed for time and need to give someone a hostess gift, thank you gift, thinking-of-you gesture, holiday treat, or birthday treat, I always defaulted to baking cookies. Cookies are fast, sweet, comforting, and always deliver a smile. So when I needed something small as my first food endeavor, there was nothing more perfect than an online cookie company.

To find out Esther Kang's favorite local dessert spots, 

PSLA: What are some of your favorite desserts in LA?
EK: That depends on the time of day, time of year, and my latest dessert obsession. So many great places in LA. For ice cream, Scoops Westside (3400 Overland Ave., 323-405-7055) for their amazing flavors; for brunch/breakfast treats, Joan's on Third because being there just makes me happy; for cakes, Porto's (315 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, 818-956-5996; 3614 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, 818-846-9100‎‎) and King's Hawaiian Bakery (2808 Sepulveda Blvd., Torrance, 310-530-0050); for cookies and pies, my kitchen!