Another challenge has come from being a woman in an industry dominated by men. The problem has never been her ability, but rather the attitudes and behaviour of some of her male counterparts. She told me about attending a big culinary event in Galicia a few years ago where she was one of four women (along with more than 20 men) and was assigned to lead a discussion on gender differences. When it came time for her to address the group, she spoke honestly about the ways that women are segregated into pastry and rarely allowed to lead the main area of professional kitchens. As she spoke, a significant number of the men openly jeered and mocked her, even some she had previously admired.