At an exclusive event held at the Institute of Culinary Education in NYC, Dessert Professional magazine celebrated their picks for the Top Ten Pastry Chefs in America, 2014. A coveted honor bestowed by Dessert Professional editors Matthew Stevens and Tish Boyle, all ten pastry chefs convey their considerable talent at a walk-around tasting for a packed house of industry insiders and media. Far from growing tired after twenty-one years, this award and this event reflect the pastry landscape in America, it just keeps getting better.
The Top Ten Pastry Chefs in America 2014
Left to Right, Back Row: Georges Berger, Ebow Dadzie, Della Gossett, Katzie Guy-Hamilton, Cher Harris, Joshua Johnson, Derek Poirier, Rudi Weider; Front Row: Ghaya Oliveira and Jennifer Yee (Regina Varolli)
Every year I've covered this event I've always chosen a favorite dessert, this year however, that task wasn't so easy to pull off. Each pastry chef's creations reflected her/his unique style, and each dessert met with great success. From MOF Pâtissier Georges Berger's complex little layers of beautifully balanced flavors and textures, to Michelin 3-Star Ghaya Oliveira's perfectly finished modern take on the classic Cherry Tart, to Ebow Dadzie's light and refreshing little dish that screamed summer, it seemed that picking a favorite this year was an exercise in futility. So I gave up on comparisons and just enjoyed every dessert for the unique creations they were.
Enjoy this slide-show highlighting the honorees and their delicious desserts. If you live near (or even not so near) any of the establishments where these perfection-pursuing pastry chefs practice their labor of love, I highly suggest you visit them and treat yourself to a tasting!
