Meet Sandra Bullock’s chef sister Gesine Bullock-Prado, a famous pastry chef

On Monday night, Sandra Bullock hit the red carpet for the The Lost City premiere with a special plus-one: her sister, Gesine Bullock-Prado.

While Sandra, 57, may have the most name recognition in the family, Gesine, 52, has made a name for herself in the foodie world after stepping away from the production company that she and Sandra launched in the ’90s.

Boasting 38,000 followers on Instagram, Gesine has her own popular baking school with sold-out classes, published six books, and hosted her own Food Network show called Baked in Vermont.

On Monday night, Sandra Bullock hit the red carpet for the The Lost City premiere with a special plus-one: her sister, Gesine Bullock-Prado

While she lives across the country from her sister in Los Angeles, the pair are still really close - and she has described Sandra on Instagram as 'my favorite person ever.'

While she lives across the country from her sister in Los Angeles, the pair are still really close – and she has described Sandra on Instagram as ‘my favorite person ever.’

Gesine, 52, runs a baking school called Sugar Glider Kitchen

Gesine, 52, runs a baking school called Sugar Glider Kitchen

Gesine came to her baking success in a roundabout about way — with a detour through the law.

In the 90s, she graduated from Southwestern Law School and joined the California State Bar at the age of 27, but enjoyed baking for fun on the side.

‘In times of stress I would bake more and more,’ she told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. ‘That should’ve been an indication that my passions were elsewhere. When I was supposed to study for the bar, I baked instead.’

In 1995, she and her sister co-founded the production company Fortis Films, which would go on to produce such hits as Hope Floats, Practical Magic, and Miss Congeniality.

It was while working with Fortis Films that she met her husband, storyboard artist Raymond Pardo, who worked on Hope Floats and Practical Magic.

‘We both felt like we’d been beamed down from the same alien planet,’ she told Dartmouth’s alumni magazine. ‘We just speak the same language.’

They tied the knot at Sandra’s Austin, Texas, house in 1999.  

'Our age difference made it impossible to be chummy when we were younger. I was a pest, an annoyance of a younger sister,' Gesine said. 'It wasn't until I got older that the age gap disintegrated. Once I was in high school, we became genuinely close'

‘Our age difference made it impossible to be chummy when we were younger. I was a pest, an annoyance of a younger sister,’ Gesine said. ‘It wasn’t until I got older that the age gap disintegrated. Once I was in high school, we became genuinely close’

Gesine went to law school and co-founded the production company Fortis Films with Sandra in 1995  (pictured in 1993)

Gesine went to law school and co-founded the production company Fortis Films with Sandra in 1995  (pictured in 1993)

She didn't like the Hollywood life, and in 2004 moved to Vermont with her husband and took up baking as a career (pictured in 2005)

She didn’t like the Hollywood life, and in 2004 moved to Vermont with her husband and took up baking as a career (pictured in 2005)

But working as a lawyer and president of Fortis, Gesine later admitted to The Guardian, was not all it was cracked up to be. She said she found the Los Angeles lifestyle ‘relentless, exhausting, and disillusioning.’

When her mother died in 2000, Gesine turned back to baking for comfort, and within a few years, she was ready for a life change. 

‘It took my mother dying, and dealing with that. I was with her when she died. I realized I didn’t like what I was doing for my day job,’ she said.

In 2004, she and Raymond moved to Vermont — and she never looked back.  

Raymond, though, has continued to work in Hollywood, and his impressive résumé also includes The Faculty, X-Men, High Crimes, Two Weeks Notice, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, The Internship, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (Parts 1 and 2), Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, Hot Pursuit, West Side Story, The Adam Project, and episodes of Stranger Things, Wormwood, and The Good Doctor. 

Gesine married storyboard artist Raymond Pardo in 1999. Raymond has worked on several Sandra Bullock films

Gesine married storyboard artist Raymond Pardo in 1999. Raymond has worked on several Sandra Bullock films

First, she opened Gesine Confectionary in Montpelier. The bakery was open from 2005 to 2008, when she shuttered it in favor of teaching

First, she opened Gesine Confectionary in Montpelier. The bakery was open from 2005 to 2008, when she shuttered it in favor of teaching

Sandra was by her side handing out macarons during the grand opening

Sandra was by her side handing out macarons during the grand opening

She opened a baking school called Sugar Glider Kitchen

She also teaches baking at King Arthur Flour in Norwich, Vermont, and Stonewall Kitchen in York, Maine

She opened a baking school called Sugar Glider Kitchen, and also teaches baking at King Arthur Flour in Norwich, Vermont, and Stonewall Kitchen in York, Maine

In addition to teaching, she has written six books, including her latest, Fantastical Cakes

In addition to teaching, she has written six books, including her latest, Fantastical Cakes

Settling in Vermont, Gesine first opened Gesine Confectionary in Montpelier, with her sister by her side handing out macarons during the grand opening.

The bakery was open from 2005 to 2008, when she shuttered it in favor of teaching.

She opened a baking school called Sugar Glider Kitchen, and also teaches baking at King Arthur Flour in Norwich, Vermont, and Stonewall Kitchen in York, Maine. 

Gesine said she likes teaching, and Mashed reports that her classes sell out within minutes.

‘One thing I do recognize is that baking for most home bakers is a form of relaxation and a retreat and it is almost for them a vacation,’ she told the Burlington Free Press. ‘They treat themselves to those moments they can spend just baking.’ 

Gesine has kept incredibly busy. In addition to teaching, she has written six books, including her latest, Fantastical Cakes. 

She has also made television appearances, and in 2019 was joined by her sister on the Today show

She has also made television appearances, and in 2019 was joined by her sister on the Today show

Gesine is pictured on the Today show with Chrissy Teigen and Willie Geist

Gesine is pictured on the Today show with Chrissy Teigen and Willie Geist

She has also made television appearances, and in 2019 was joined by her sister on the Today show. 

She’s taken turns as a judge on cooking shows, including Best Baker in America, Beat Bobby Flay, Christmas Cookie Challenge, and Worst Cooks.  

And for two seasons, she had her own Food Network show, Baked in Vermont.

‘I write my books, I teach my classes, I have to get outside because I have these animals to take care of. It’s this really lovely, bucolic routine,’ she said.  

While she lives across the country from her sister in Los Angeles, the pair are still really close — and she has described Sandra on Instagram as ‘my favorite person ever.’

‘We were raised in such an unusual way that we were taught to be relatively private people,’ she told The Guardian.  

'I write my books, I teach my classes, I have to get outside because I have these animals to take care of. It’s this really lovely, bucolic routine,' she said

‘I write my books, I teach my classes, I have to get outside because I have these animals to take care of. It’s this really lovely, bucolic routine,’ she said

Gesine has also served as a judge on Best Baker in America, Beat Bobby Flay, Christmas Cookie Challenge, and Worst Cooks

Gesine has also served as a judge on Best Baker in America, Beat Bobby Flay, Christmas Cookie Challenge, and Worst Cooks

And for two seasons, she had her own Food Network show, Baked in Vermont

And for two seasons, she had her own Food Network show, Baked in Vermont

‘I have friends and we’re close. But when you are very private, family becomes more and more important. They are the only ones that you want to share certain things with. 

‘Our age difference made it impossible to be chummy when we were younger. I was a pest, an annoyance of a younger sister. No girl in her tender years, navigating through the trials of puberty wants her annoying geek of a little sister hanging about. 

‘It wasn’t until I got older that the age gap disintegrated. Once I was in high school, we became genuinely close.’

But no doubt, there are challenges to being compared to her ‘genetically gifted sister, and she revealed that people have brazenly asked her, ‘Why is it that you don’t look more like her?’

‘So sorry to disappoint you, you a**,’ she answers. 

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