Pastry Chef

Flash-grilled: Neradah Hartnett

13-Mar-2024 By James McAllister

The executive pastry chef for London-based pub and hotel group Cubitt House on the best drink to pair with mince pies, her first industry job, and learning from criticism.

Middle East-founded dessert bar KAYU Bakehouse to make London debut

13-Sep-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Dessert bar concept KAYU Bakehouse will launch its first London site next month following success in the Middle East.

The Landmark London’s pastry team win Bake Off: The Professionals 2023

07-Sep-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The Landmark London’s head pastry chef Mauro Di Lieto and his pastry sous chef Daniel Schevenels have been crowned winners of Channel 4’s Bake Off: The Professionals 2023.

James and Maria Close create small bites menu for Johnnie Walker’s Edinburgh venue

08-Jun-2023 By Joe Lutrario

James and Maria Close have partnered with Johnnie Walker Princes Street to launch a menu of intricate small bites designed to be paired with whisky-based cocktails.

Flash-grilled: Nokx Majozi

26-May-2023 By James McAllister

The South African chef, who's currently head pie maker at Holborn Dining Room, on memories of cooking with her father, a nasty run-in with a snake, and rolling pins.

13 of the most exciting chefs in the world of pastry and bakery right now

25-May-2023 By James McAlllister

The independent out-of-home bakery space is thriving. Meet the baker’s dozen of chefs laminating their way to the top

Cherish Finden leaves Pan Pacific London

13-Apr-2023 By Joe Lutrario

High-profile pastry chef Cherish Finden has left Shoreditch’s Pan Pacific London to ‘focus on a new career chapter’.

Anna Higham and Paris Barghchi to open Quince bakery in Islington

02-Mar-2023 By Restaurant

Pastry chef Anna Higham and hospitality professional Paris Barghchi will open Quince bakery in Islington this summer.

How an untrained Country Durham chef created one of the UK’s most exciting restaurants

05-Sep-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Self-taught chef James Close has brought two stars to the North East with his The Raby Hunt restaurant. Can he dish up a third?

Flash-grilled: Yam Lok Hin

19-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

The executive pastry chef at the Four Seasons Hotel London on Park Lane on his admiration of Pierre Hermé, a strange sugar-free request, and the power of Instagram.

The lowdown: super premium patisserie

15-Jul-2022 By Stefan Chomka

London is now awash with high-end patisserie counters practicing one-upmanship in pastry. Greggs the baker they ain’t.

Calum Franklin leaves Holborn Dining Room after eight years

13-Jun-2022 By Restaurant

Calum Franklin has stepped away from his role as executive head chef at Holborn Dining Room after eight years.

Flash-grilled: Jessica Préalpato

06-Jun-2022 By James McAllister

The former World’s Best Pastry Chef, who recently collaborated with The Carlton Tower Jumeirah in London's Knightsbridge to create a 'unique afternoon tea experience', tells us about her career.

Cherish Finden to launch standalone pâtisserie at Pan Pacific London

18-May-2022 By Joe Lutrario

High-profile pastry chef Cherish Finden will open a standalone, Singapore-influenced pâtisserie at Pan Pacific London next month.

People on the move: March 2022

14-Mar-2022 By Joe Lutrario

This month's job moves includes a new executive pastry chef for Nathan Outlaw's restaurant group and a new global COO for German Doner Kebab.

Flash-grilled: Regis Cursan

18-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

Nobu London's executive pastry chef on his problem with 'posh' doughnuts, and why reading about the history of food is crucial for any chef starting out in the industry.

Latest opening: Cédric Grolet at The Berkeley

15-Feb-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Is £135 pushing it for a dessert-only tasting menu? Superstar Parisian pastry chef Cédric Grolet doesn’t think so.

Kimberley Lin: “I still dream about Cronuts”

03-Dec-2021 By Joe Lutrario

The former Dominique Ansel development chef on her new restaurant at 3 Henrietta Street and her vegan cookie side hustle Floozie.

Flash-grilled: Michael Kwan

15-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

The head pastry chef at the Hotel Café Royal in London's Piccadilly, who recently impressed at the Coup de Monde de la Patisserie in France, discusses his career to date.

Pastry chef Kimberley Lin launches Floozie Cookie in Covent Garden

08-Dec-2020 By Cameron Henderson

Kimberly Lin, a former pastry chef at Claridge’s and The Savoy, has taken advantage of the pandemic to launch her ‘fantasy project’: selling cookies in Covent Garden.

Calum Franklin: “We’ve never been afraid to share our secrets”

30-Sep-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The self-proclaimed pastry deviant on his debut cookbook, being a beef Wellington agony aunt and his ambition for Holborn Dining Rooms to win the World Championship of Pâté-Croûte.

Graham Hornigold on bringing his high-end pastry credentials to doughnuts

14-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Top restaurant pastry chef Graham Hornigold is ramping up the expansion and reach of his doughnut concept Longboys with plans for two further London locations.

Cherish Finden named executive pastry chef at Pan Pacific London

02-Jun-2020 By Restaurant

Cherish Finden has been named as executive pastry chef of Pan Pacific London when the hotel opens next year.

Dominique Ansel: "There’s nothing flattering about someone ripping off your product"

07-Feb-2020 By James McAllister

Pastry chef Dominique Ansel is looking beyond Cronuts for his second London opening, Treehouse in Covent Garden, which is part boutique bakery, part bistro.

Chef Masterclass: Ispahan macarons by Pierre Hermé

18-Jul-2019 By Bill Knott

The 'Picasso of pastry' Pierre Hermé discusses the future of his craft and tell us how to make one of his most iconic dishes.

Jessica Préalpato named World’s Best Pastry Chef

11-Jun-2019 By James McAllister

Jessica Préalpato, the head pastry chef at Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée in Paris, has been named The World’s Best Pastry Chef 2019 ahead of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards in Singapore on 25 June.

Martin Chiffers on why “pastry chefs must do sugar art"

13-Apr-2017 By Hannah Thompson

Martin Chiffers, pastry chef and former president of international Pastry Team UK, co-judged the 2017 UK Sugar Championships last week. We caught up with him to talk key skills, and keeping the art of sugar alive

Claire Clark to open patisserie academy with professional courses

06-Apr-2017 By Hannah Thompson

Pastry chef Claire Clark has confirmed she is to open a patisserie academy with Milton Keynes College.

Second series of Bake Off: Crème de la Crème set for BBC Two

03-Apr-2017 By Hannah Thompson

The second series of the BBC’s Bake Off: Crème de la Crème, with tops pastry chefs Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden as judges, is to kick off on BBC Two tomorrow night (Tuesday).

Academy of Chocolate Awards 2017 receives record number of entries

30-Mar-2017 By Hannah Thompson

The Academy of Chocolate Awards has received almost double the entries for 2017 as it did for the 2016 competition, as it confirms pastry chef Sarah Hartnett as new chair of judges.

Chefs' Secrets of Success: Benoit Blin

08-Feb-2017 By Hannah Thompson

Benoit Blin is chef patissier at the two Michelin-starred Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons, Raymond Blanc’s renowned restaurant and rooms in the heart of Oxfordshire.

BBC Creme de la Creme winner Helen Vass calls on restaurants to offer ‘special occasion’ desserts

06-Feb-2017 By Hannah Thompson

Helen Vass, pastry chef and one third of the winning team in the first Bake Off: Crème de la Crème, has said that restaurant menus should feature ‘special occasion’ desserts, as they make guests feel more welcome, and help secure repeat bookings.

Pastry Team UK aims for the podium at Patisserie World Cup 2017

23-Jan-2017 By Hannah Thompson

[Photo credit: Pastry Team UK]Pastry Team UK has completed its competition day at the Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie 2017 at the Sirha exhibition in Lyon, ahead of the final results announcement expected 5pm tonight.

Angus Deayton takes over from Tom Kerridge as host of professional Bake Off

20-Jan-2017 By Hannah Thompson

Television presenter Angus Deayton is to take over from chef Tom Kerridge as the host of professional pastry chef show Bake Off: Crème de la Crème.

Café Spice Namaste revives Adventure Gourmet skills programme

14-Dec-2016 By Emma Eversham

Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala of Café Spice Namaste are reviving their Adventure Gourmet programme where they plan to showcase the cooking skills of chefs such as Ben Tish, Simon Hulstone and Francesco Mazzei

City & Guilds launches digital professional chef qualifications

17-Nov-2016 By Hannah Thompson

Professional hospitality body Worldchefs has teamed up with skills education group the City & Guilds to launch a new digital tool allowing professional chefs and educators to gain certification ‘on the job’.

Perfect match: Why coffee could be better served with desserts not after

06-Oct-2016 By Emma Eversham

Coffee being served with dessert instead of after it could soon be a practice seen in more restaurants due to work being carried out by a top pastry chef and a coffee supplier to find the perfect coffee and dessert matches.

Winners announced on BBC’s professional pastry chef Bake Off

18-May-2016 By Hannah Thompson

Bake Off: Creme de la Creme, the professional pastry chef contest on BBC Two, has crowned Mark Tilling’s team the winners after last night’s final.

Crème de la Crème judge: BBC show will inspire new pastry generation

29-Mar-2016 By Hannah Thompson

The new TV show Bake Off Crème de la Crème, which aired on BBC Two last night (29 March) will inspire a new generation of pastry chefs and will bring new recognition to the industry’s skills, according to one of its three judges.

UK team for World Pastry Cup 2017 announced

04-Nov-2015 By Emma Eversham

The pastry chefs and patissiers who will compete for the UK in the Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie (Pastry World Cup) 2017 have been revealed. 

Sat Bains and Michel Roux Jr among chef line-up at The Restaurant Show 2015

28-Sep-2015 By Sophie Witts

Sat Bains, Michel Roux Jr and Raymond Blanc are some of the big named chefs who will be sharing some of their trade secrets at The Restaurant Show next week (5-7 October).

Mövenpick Gourmet Dessert Chef of the Year winner announced

04-Jun-2015 By Sophie Witts

Biju Joshwa of the London Marriott Country Hall Hotel was crowned the Mövenpick Gourmet Desert Chef of the Year 2015 last night (3 June).

Finalists named for Mövenpick Ice Cream Gourmet Dessert Chef of the Year

27-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

A shortlist of five finalists have been named for the Gourmet Dessert Chef of the Year competition, which takes place next Wednesday (3 June).

Mövenpick Ice Cream launches Gourmet Dessert Chef of the Year competiton

23-Feb-2015 By Sophie Witts

Mövenpick Ice Cream has launched its annual Gourmet Dessert Chef of the Year competition. 

Top chefs prepare to take the stage at the Restaurant Show 2014

15-Sep-2014 By Carina Perkins

Tom Kerridge, Phillip Howard, Brett Graham and Clare Smyth MBE are among the chefs that will take to the stage at the Restaurant Show 2014.

World Chocolate Masters' UK candidate Ruth Hinks shares pastry chef career tips

28-Oct-2013 By Emma Eversham

Ruth Hinks, the chocolatier who will represent the UK in the World Chocolate Masters this week, has given her advice to those seeking a career as a chocolatier or pastry chef. 

Keeping sweet: Are pastry chef careers valued in the UK?

13-Feb-2013

From William Curley to Claire Clark, the UK has produced some of the leading masters in chocolate, sugar and all things sweet. However employers still report difficulties in filling pastry chef vacancies - so is a career in pastry as valued in this country...

Claire Clark: The Great British Bake Off should encourage investors to ‘take a gamble’ on UK pastry chefs

19-Oct-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Claire Clark, former pastry chef at three Michelin-starred restaurant The French Laundry, has expressed her wish that the success of The Great British Bake Off will change perceptions of dessert chefs and help her and others get the finance to open solo...

Dobla chef crowned World Chocolate Master 2011

24-Oct-2011 By Luke Nicholls

Frank Haasnoot, executive pastry chef at chocolate decorations manufacturer Dobla, has been named World Chocolate Master 2011 at the Salon du Chocolat Professionnel in Paris.

World Chocolate Masters final to be streamed live on BigHospitality

14-Oct-2011 By Luke Nicholls

As next week sees the 2011 World Chocolate Masters Final taking place in Paris, BigHospitality can reveal that the competition will be broadcast through a live stream accessible on our website.