5 Famous Pastry Chefs Inspiring Future Baking and Pastry Arts Students

Pastry chefs are having quite a moment in the spotlight, as evidenced by the slew of television shows dedicated exclusively to the art of baking. Wedding cakes, holiday desserts, home-baker inspired comfort food – there’s a pastry chef somewhere waiting to make her mark on the dessert world by cornering the market with a niche skill or an exciting new idea. Here are a few of the pastry chefs leading the charge today.

Albert Adria, Barcelona

Few chefs have displayed the genius of Albert Adria, and he’s cast a spell over the pastry world in recent years. Constantly inventing new techniques and garnering a slew of Michelin stars, Adria makes beautiful, mind-blowingly original creations that bring whimsy and a child’s wonder to the dessert world. Check out the documentary about his life and work for inspiration.

Devin McDavid, San Francisco

The executive pastry chef at San Francisco’s acclaimed “Quince” and “Cotogna” restaurants, McDavid was born in Trinidad and inspired by his aunt, who owned a catering business, to pursue his own culinary dreams. He’s been vocal about the underrepresentation of men and women of color in the culinary world – see his interview with PBS here – and was named by Food & Wine magazine as one of the best new pastry chefs of 2012. His star is only getting brighter, with his Japanese and Italian accented desserts taking center stage in San Francisco.

Lorraine Pascale, London

Pascale is the very definition of the modern celebrity chef, a rising star whose face flashes across cooking shows with increasing frequency, and whose web presence – check out her website, or Twitter – has garnered a huge following. A former model, Pascale decided to take on the culinary arts, and she’s never looked back. Often called “The Supermodel Chef,” Pascale has real cooking chops, but she’s also prioritized giving back to the community. She speaks at charity events, is passionate about inspiring young people, and seems to truly understand the power of celebrity.

Jennifer Yee, New York City

If you want to torture yourself with pastry shots on Instagram, look no further than acclaimed chef Jen Yee’s delicious collection of images. The San Francisco native has worked in some of the country’s best restaurants and attended London’s Le Cordon Bleu, but her primary job for the last few years? Racking up awards! Best New Pastry Chef of 2014 from Food & Wine magazine. James Beard Award Semi-Finalist Outstanding Pastry Chef of 2015. James Beard Award Finalist Outstanding Pastry Chef 2016. The list goes on.

David Lebovitz, Paris

Lebovitz’s stardom is built on a very specific tool – cookbooks and food blogs. His mind seems to contain an endless stream of recipes, and he’s been writing about his culinary life in Paris since 1999 – one might argue that he invented food blogging! His original cookbook is out of print and sells for quite a bit on Ebay, but his newer books, and of course his food blog, are greedily absorbed by the sweet-loving public around the world. Check out his recipes if you want to try your hand at crafting beautiful, traditional-inspired desserts, with the occasional snack or cocktail thrown in.

The world is always looking for the next big thing in culinary arts. Whether it’s a dish that changes how we think about food, a persona that excites the public, or a glimpse into the high-fashion world of pastry arts that makes non-chefs excited about cooking, talented pastry chefs are constantly reinventing the dessert world.

Successful pastry chefs have more than just a sweet tooth! It takes dedication to the craft, innovation, and curiosity to develop the skill set that will bring the world its next great pastry chef. Sound like you? Earning a Diploma in Baking and Pastry Arts may the launch pad you need. Contact ECPI University's Culinary Institute of Virginia today, and let’s talk about how our culinary program can take your desserts to the next level.

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