Y’all, big news for our Western North Carolina foodie scene — Oksana Shchelgachova of Edelweiss Highlands Pastry Boutique is on this season’s Halloween Baking Championship! 🎉
Oksana’s journey is one of passion, art, and quiet strength. Born into a family of bakers in Ukraine, she studied baking and pastry arts overseas, then made Highlands, NC, her home. After years of building her craft (she ran “Sweet Life” since 2017 and helped lead pastry programs at Midpoint Highlands), she opened Edelweiss Pastry Boutique in August 2023 at 892 N 4th Street — a beautiful boutique where dessert is art, detail is everything, and every pastry feels like it was made just for you.
At Edelweiss you’ll find desserts that delight the eyes and the tastebuds: gateaux, tarts, eclairs, cheesecakes, pastries shaped like creatures or flowers, always with mirror glaze, vibrant fillings, and luxurious chocolate. It’s not just dessert — it’s storytelling on a plate.
And now, Food Network is shining a light on Oksana. She is competing among 10 bakers on Halloween Baking Championship Season 11. Watching her represent Highlands on national TV makes us proud.
🕒 What You Need to Know / Visit Edelweiss
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Address: 892 N 4th Street, Highlands, NC
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Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, ~10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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What you’ll find: Pastries, desserts, hot & cold beverages, grab-and-go sweets, custom orders for weddings or special events.
🌄 A Little About Highlands
Highlands is a gorgeous mountain town in the western part of North Carolina, known for mountain views, cooler summer air, lush greenery, and a charming downtown with boutique shops, galleries, excellent restaurants, and natural beauty all around. Because of its elevation and scenery, it’s a retreat spot for travelers and locals alike. Having Edelweiss there adds a sweet (literally) gem to that vibrant mountain atmosphere.
❤️ A Word of Congratulation & Why This Matters
Oksana, huge congratulations. You’ve already made a difference in Highlands and in WNC with your art, your desserts, your dedication. Being on national TV isn’t just cool — it’s big validation for all the time you pour into your craft. For those of us who care about real food, gorgeous presentation, and dessert that makes you smile and think, you lift the whole community with what you do.
So go visit Edelweiss. Taste the artistry. Order something beautiful. Tell your friends. Because this is one of those local businesses worthy of every “support local” shout-out.
