When we put out a call for Houstonians to nominate their favorite chefs for Nightline's national People's Platelist contest, readers apparently responded. Out of 1,000 nominees, one Houstonian has been named one of the 18 finalists: Sara Brook of Dessert Gallery.

Brook has been a fixture of the Houston dessert scene for nearly 15 years since she opened her original Dessert Gallery location on Kirby. She added a second store on Post Oak a few years ago.

She wins raves for her classic creations — cakes, especially, but also cookies and cupcakes — that come directly from childhood, as well as fostering a festive atmosphere with late hours, board games and whimsical design.

"It has been the craziest, most exciting whirlwind three weeks of my life," Brook says. "When I got the call from ABC, as I'm listening it kinda hit me that this wasn't a prank."

Brook says filming the video was almost an act of providence. "My daughter was just home for 10 days between studying abroad in Buenos Aires and heading back to school, so we have a really sweet moment in the video, and my dad's in it too. It was so thrilling, like the universe came together."

Brook and the 17 other finalists have created videos which will premiere on Nightline on Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. on Channel 13 (People's Platelist will air at the end of the show) Following the televised clip, all videos will be available online and voting will begin.

Voting ends on Sept. 26, with the winner to be announced live on Nightline Sept. 27. Stay tuned for details of a Dessert Gallery viewing party, and don't forget to vote!