Best New Pastry Chefs 2013
The winners of this year's Best New Pastry Chef awards, presented by Godiva, deconstruct some of the dazzling desserts that show off their skill and sensibilities.
Photo © Andrew Thomas Lee
Melanie Durant
Empire State South, Atlanta
Why She Won The majority of Durant’s desserts start with a vegetable or herb. She builds from there, using old-fashioned techniques (no hydrocolloids) to achieve fantastic flavors and combinations.
Photo © Eric Wolfinger
Stephanie Prida
Manresa, Los Gatos, CA
Why She Won Prida creates delicious, beautiful, complex desserts. Her classical training at The Elysian and Blackbird in Chicago makes her a technical whiz, while Manresa’s location, near the central California coast, puts her in touch with some of the best raw ingredients in the world.
Photo © Nicole Franzen
Bob Truitt
Ai Fiori, New York City, and The Altamarea Group
Why He Won Using ideas learned in avant-garde restaurants, Truitt creates witty, magical plates like this take on “toad in the hole,” which looks like a savory egg dish but is actually passion fruit cream with caramelized brioche.
Photo © Eric Kleinberg Photography
Sarah Jordan
Boka and GT Fish & Oyster, Chicago
Why She Won Without any formal training, Jordan has created her own bold, risk-taking style. Her signature is using savory elements—flavoring caramel, for instance, with ingredients like miso, soy or beer.
Photo © Michael Piazza
Monica Glass
Clio and Uni Sashimi Bar, Boston
Why She Won Pretty, dainty and feminine, Glass’s French-inflected desserts are exquisitely balanced. Each plate contains several components that show just the right amount of restraint.