Otto Sanchez

Founder & Chef

Otto's professional career as a Pastry Chef took off when he moved from San Salvador, El Salvador, to his new hometown, Houston, Texas, in 1992. After several years of apprenticeship, he continued this self-directed training and development at luxury hotel properties such as the Omni Houston Hotel, and The Sam Houston Hotel (17* Restaurant). Otto counts the next three years as among the most influential in his professional career, as he earned the role of Executive Sous-Chef of Pastry at Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse’s MIX in Las Vegas, NV. He seized the moment again when he opened the now-legendary LEED Platinum-Certified Bardessono Hotel in Yountville, CA as Executive Pastry Chef. In 2009, determination to master his craft led him back to Las Vegas, when he was appointed Sous Chef at Michelin-starred chef Joël Robuchon’s The Mansion. Otto went on to hold the Executive Pastry Chef position at The Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay, before traveling abroad to lead the pastry team at "The Most Luxurious Hotel in the World," Burj Al Arab team in Dubai, UAE.

Most recently, Otto held the position of Executive Pastry Chef at La Table here in Houston. Throughout these years of traveling and learning, Otto's main goal never wavered: to come home, then to do his part to elevate the art of bread and pastry for his city. Magnol French Baking represents the realization of this long-held dream. The tremendous, fought-for opportunity to serve the Houston community with superior product is a challenge that Chef Otto and his team are thrilled to meet and deliver upon, every day!

Kristen White

Co-Owner

Krissy caught the hospitality bug after graduating from Northeastern University in Boston, MA in 2006. She put her degree in Public & Organizational Communicationsto work immediatly by joining the front office team of the St. Regis Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, FL in 2007. Krissy spent the next eight years living and breathing the luxury hospitality life, working at Forbes 5 Star and AAA 5 Diamond distinguished properties. She was promoted to progressively more challenging front office leadership roles with The Ritz Carlton, in locations such as Charlotte, NC and Half Moon Bay, CA, where she met the love of her life. After tying the knot, the newlyweds decided to spread their wings together with a move to the other side of the globe. In the United Arab Emirates, Krissy managed front office operations, including six departments and a multicultural team of 150+ employees at the Madinat Jumeirah Resort in Dubai. Working side by side with this international group of hard-working colleagues and leaders taught her many cherished lessons, which continue to influence her personal and professional ethos.

Since returning to Houston in 2014, Krissy has been working in an operational and human resources leadership role for a boutique insurance company in the Galleria. With her aspiration of professionally teaming up with Otto finally realized, Krissy is eager to contribute her operational, leadership, strategic and human resources experience to the Magnol team.

Krissy is currently a pursuing an Executive MBA degree from Rice University with the class of 2023.