Last call: Michael Laiskonis’ last desserts at Le Bernardin
Posted by Niko on January 13th, 2012
The beautiful black sesame panna cotta, sour cherry sphere, mandarin sorbet
2011 has to go down as one of the most exciting and tumultuous years ever for the top end of the New York pastry chef world. On the exciting side: Bravo’s Top Chef : Just Desserts franchise finished its second season with NYC’s own Johnny Iuzzini as the head judge and a bevy of New York based pastry chefs as guest judges and hosts. Alex Stupak, another of NYC’s elite pastry chefs, finally got the praise he deserved for his restaurant Empellon, proving once again that pastry chefs can make the switch into savory (or management) and blazing a trail for future pastry chefs to follow. Continue reading this article…
Last call: Johnny Iuzzini’s final desserts from Jean Georges part I
Posted by Niko on January 2nd, 2012
The cranberry parfait was one of my favorite desserts of the afternoon
Part I. After nearly 10 years, Johnny Iuzzini’s last day as executive pastry chef at Jean Georges was December 31st. A week earlier I went to Jean Georges to cover his last 15 plated desserts on the menu at the three-Michelin star, four NY Times star restaurant. Johnny talks about his plans for life after JG in Part II. Continue reading this article…
Killed by Dessert takes its first 50 victims
Posted by Niko on January 17th, 201
Everyone has to go sometime, you might as well be killed by dessert. Francisco Migoya's eclair
On Monday night DessertBuzz attended “Killed by Dessert”. Six of the country’s top pastry chefs came together to create and serve their “favorite things” in a special meal to benefit Share Our Strength
. The evening was a unqualified success. There was something really special about the contrast of the casual dining environment of an industrial kitchen and the fastidiousness of top-level chefs and their teams working as if they were feeding the president. Continue reading this article…
The 2011 Top 10 Pastry Chefs in the US are honored in New York
Posted by Niko on June 6th, 2011
Chef Francisco Migoya from the CIA
Tonight I attended the “The Oscars” for pastry, also known as The Top 10 Pastry Chef Awards presented by Dessert Professional Magazine. Ten of the best pastry chefs in the US all gathered in one place who, along with teams of 4-6 assistants, composed and plated over 300 fancy-pants desserts for attendees. There’s no judging or competition here, just lots of appreciation for the skills and careers of these accomplished chefs.
Here are the honorees and their desserts:
Antonio Bachour – Executive Pastry Chef, Quattro at Trump Soho, New York, NY and Solea at W South Beach, Miami
Antonio Bachour's Manjari Lolipops
Antonio Bachour's vanilla panna cotta with apricot caviar
Continue reading this article…
Desserts from the 2011 New York Food & Wine “Sweet Event” sponsored by Godiva Part 1:
Friday night was the New York Food & Wine Festival “Sweet” event. A rare opportunity to try some of the best desserts from New York’s top pastry chefs–all in one place. This is part 2 of our report (Part 1 with fan favorite Doughnut Plant and Johnny Iuzzini is here).
Ron Ben-Israel - Ron Ben Israel cakes - Duo of Cakes