Anna Olson (born May 4, 1968) is an American

pastry chef A pastry chef or pâtissier (; feminine pâtissière, ) is a station chef in a professional kitchen, skilled in the making of pastries, desserts, breads and other baked goods. They are employed in large hotels, bistros, restaurants, bakeries, b ...

. She was previously the host of Food Network Canada's '' Fresh with Anna Olson'', ''

Sugar Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose Glucose is a sugar with the Chemical formula#Molecular formula, molecul ...

'' and '' Kitchen Equipped'' and ''

Bake with Anna Olson ''Bake with Anna Olson'' was a cooking show which focused on baking, hosted by USA born Canadian pastry chef Anna Olson and was originally broadcast by Food Network Canada. It can be seen in Canada on Cooking Channel in syndication. Synopsis Eac ...

''. She is currently a judge on both '' Great Chocolate Showdown'' and ''Junior Chef Showdown'', both of which premiered in 2020. She hosts short videos on her YouTube channel ''Oh Yum with Anna Olson''. She resides in

Welland Welland is a city in the Regional Municipality of Niagara in Southern Ontario, Canada. As of 2021, it had a population of 55,750. The city is in the centre of Niagara and located within a half-hour driving distance to Niagara Falls, Niagara-on ...

in the Niagara region of

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, Canada.

Biography

Anna Tomcik Olson was born in

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

. Her parents, Donna and Andy Tomcik, immigrated to

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

where she grew up. Olson's paternal grandparents came from Slovakia. Olson earned a degree in

political science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and Power (social and political), power, and the analysis of political activities, political philosophy, political thought, polit ...

and

sociology Sociology is the scientific study of human society that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of Interpersonal ties, social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. The term sociol ...

from Queen's University in

Kingston Kingston may refer to: Places * List of places called Kingston, including the six most populated: ** Kingston, Jamaica ** Kingston upon Hull, England ** City of Kingston, Victoria, Australia ** Kingston, Ontario, Canada ** Kingston upon Thames, ...

. She also worked for a time in a bank in

downtown Toronto Downtown Toronto is the main city centre of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located entirely within the district of Old Toronto, it is approximately 16.6 square kilometres in area, bounded by Bloor Street to the northeast and Dupont Street to the nor ...

. During her lunch breaks, Olson wandered the

St. Lawrence Market St. Lawrence Market is a major market (place), public market in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located along Front Street (Toronto), Front Street East and Jarvis Street in the St. Lawrence, Toronto, St. Lawrence neighbourhood of downtown Toront ...

searching for different ingredients and inspiration for her next dinner party. Olson recalls that she was baking a banana muffin one night after being unable to sleep when she had a "muffin epiphany" and decided to pursue a culinary career. Olson then enrolled in the College of Culinary Arts at

Johnson & Wales University Johnson & Wales University (JWU) is a private university with its main campus in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded as a business school in 1914 by Gertrude I. Johnson and Mary T. Wales, JWU enrolled 7,357 students across its cam ...

Providence, Rhode Island Providence () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Rhode Island, most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. The county seat of Providence County, Rhode Island, Providence County, it is o ...

. Upon her graduation from the university, Olson travelled across the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. She would eventually find her way to

Niagara Falls Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the Canada–United States border, border between the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York (s ...

. Olson was a pastry chef at

Inn on the Twenty Inns are generally establishments or buildings where travelers can seek lodging, and usually, food and drink. Inns are typically located in the country or along a highway. Before the advent of motorized transportation, they also provided accomm ...

in Jordan, Ontario for seven years, where she met her husband, chef Michael Olson. Olson's writings include ''The Inn on the Twenty Cookbook'', co-authored by her husband and published in 2000. Olson also published a cookbook called ''Sugar'' in 2004. It was a companion to her TV show by the same name which aired on

Food Network Canada Food Network is a Canadian exempt discretionary specialty channel owned by Rogers Sports & Media. Based on the U.S. cable network of the same name, It broadcasts programming related to food, cooking, cuisine, and the food industry. History ...

. Olson co-authored another book with her husband which was released in October 2005. The book is called ''Anna & Michael Olson Cook at Home: Recipes for Everyday and Every Occasion''. This is a menu-driven book which highlights how Olson and her husband cook at home. It also includes tips and tricks for entertaining and weeknight dining. In late 2006, another cookbook with recipes derived from ''

'', called ''Another Cup of Sugar'' was released. Olson also writes for publications such as ''

Vines A vine is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or wikt:scandent, scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas, or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themselves, for instance, when used in wicker work.Jackson; ...

'' and ''

LCBO Food and Drink The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO, ) is a Crown agency that retails and distributes alcoholic beverages throughout the Canadian province of Ontario. It is accountable to the Legislative Assembly through the minister of finance. It wa ...

''. Anna Olson opened Olson Food at Port in

Port Dalhousie Port Dalhousie is a community in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Known for its waterfront appeal, it is home to the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta and is historically significant as the terminus for the first three (19th century) routes of th ...

, a historic lakeside community in

St. Catharines St. Catharines is the most populous city in Canada's Niagara Region, the eighth largest urban area in the province of Ontario. As of 2021, St. Catharines has an area of and 136,803 residents. It lies in Southern Ontario, south of Toronto ac ...

. She sold the Port Dalhousie shop in April 2009, to their long-time friend and pastry chef Andrea Poirier and her sister Leesa Leshkewich. In July 2008, the Olsons opened their second location, Olson Foods at Ravine, in partnership with Ravine Vineyards in St. David's, Ontario. In February 2010 it was announced that they were no longer involved with the location at The Ravine Winery and the partnership was ended. Olson supports a local program called the Niagara Women's Enterprise Centre. The centre provides training in the hospitality sector to women who might not have that opportunity, with her end-of-the-day product given to a local

YWCA The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is a nonprofit organization with a focus on empowerment, leadership, and rights of women, young women, and girls in more than 100 countries. The World office is currently based in Geneva, Swit ...

women's shelter A women's shelter, also known as a women's refuge and battered women's shelter, is a place of temporary protection and support for women escaping domestic violence and intimate partner violence of all forms. The term is also frequently used to ...

or Out of the Cold Program.

Endorsements

Starbucks Coffee

Olson has been featured for the past few years in various promotions for

Starbucks Coffee Starbucks Corporation is an American multinational chain of coffeehouses and roastery reserves headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It was founded in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker at Seattle's Pike Place Market i ...

Canada. This started in the winter of 2004, when her ''Mocha Bites'' recipe was featured on a recipe card available in Starbucks retail stores. In the spring of 2005, Starbucks Coffee featured Olson in television advertisements aired nationally to promote their sweepstakes that was held in-conjunction with

and to introduce ''Anna's Brown Sugar Pound Cake'' being sold in retail stores. This also included in-store advertising of her cake with special pastry toppers and take-home recipe cards. In winter 2005, her ''Chai Decadence Chocolate Bundt Cake'' was one of the featured holiday pastries sold in stores (once again promoted with in-store recipe cards). Olson was also featured in the Christmas television advertisement for Starbucks Coffee Canada. In the spring of 2006, Olson appeared in television advertisements promoting Starbucks Coffee's annual Brewing Sale 2006.

Splenda

Starting in late 2005, Olson has appeared in television advertisements for

Splenda Splenda is a global brand of sugar substitutes and reduced-calorie food products. While the company is known for its original formulation containing sucralose, it also manufactures items using natural sweeteners such as stevia, monk fruit and ...

and has provided recipes on their official Canadian website.

KitchenAid

Olson has appeared in television advertisements for

KitchenAid KitchenAid is an American home appliance brand owned by Whirlpool Corporation. The company was started in 1919 by The Hobart Manufacturing Company to produce Mixer (appliance), stand mixers; the H-5 is the first model that was introduced. The com ...

appliances. Fleischmann and KitchenAid were official sponsors of ''Bake with Anna Olson'' beginning in season two.

Pillsbury

Olson did commercials for Pillsbury Christmas cookies during the 2006 Christmas season.

Bulk Barn

Olson's "Chef's Selections" appears in

Bulk Barn Bulk Barn Foods Limited (Bulk Barn) is Canada's largest bulk foods store. Founded in September 1982 by Carl Ofield. The store sells common to somewhat specialty foods, such as those that are vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and other common dietary ...

's flyers and website.

Home Hardware

Olson has done television commercials and flyer ads for

Home Hardware Home Hardware Stores Ltd. is an independent home improvement retailer located in Canada. Co-founded by Walter Hachborn in 1964, and headquartered in St. Jacobs, Ontario, the company has close to 1,100 stores that operate under one of four banners ...

, advertising kitchen products and appliances. She also has a recipe section on the Home Hardware website and contributes to Home Hardware's free quarterly magazine "Home at Home".

Filmography

Awards and nominations

Bibliography

*''Inn on the Twenty Cookbook'' ''co-written with Michael Olson'' (July 2003 Whitecap Publishing, ) *''Sugar'' - (April 2004 Whitecap Publishing, ) *''Anna & Michael Olson Cook at Home: Recipes for Everyday and Every Occasion'' ''co-wrote with Michael Olson'' - (October 2005 Whitecap Publishing, ) *''Another Cup of Sugar'' - (October 2006 Whitecap Publishing, ) *''In The Kitchen With Anna: New Ways with the Classics'' - (September 2008, Whitecap Publishing, ) *''Fresh with Anna Olson'' - (September 2009, Whitecap Publishing, ) *''Back to Baking: 200 Timeless Recipes to Bake, Share, Enjoy'' - (December 2011, Whitecap Publishing, ) *''Bake with Anna Olson: More than 125 Simple, Scrumptious and Sensational Recipes to Make You a Better Baker'' - (September 13, 2016; Appetite by Random House, ) *''Set for the Holidays with Anna Olson'' - (October 2018, Appetite by Random House, )

References

External links

Official Site
*
Olson Food and Bakery official websiteAnna Olson Official Host Profile on Foodtv.ca - Food Network Canada websiteAnna Olson Host Profile for hgtv.ca - HGTV Canada websiteAnna Olson
at the Chef and Restaurant Database * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Olson, Anna 1968 births Living people 21st-century Canadian women writers American bakers American cookbook writers American emigrants to Canada American expatriates in Canada American people of Slovak descent American women chefs Canadian bakers Canadian cookbook writers Canadian people of Slovak descent Canadian restaurateurs Canadian television chefs Canadian television hosts Canadian women chefs Chefs from Georgia (U.S. state) Chefs from Toronto Johnson & Wales University alumni Pastry chefs People from Atlanta People from Welland Queen's University at Kingston alumni American women food writers Writers from Atlanta Writers from Toronto