RISING STAR PASTRY AWARD SPONSORED BY 

Mindy Segal
HOTCHOCOLATE | Chicago

Biography
When it comes to pastry, Chef Mindy Segal is right at home. With 15 years of crafting sweets under her belt, Segal combines her innate instinct for flavor combinations with her commitment to seasonal, local and sustainable products. The result is desserts that are truly American – each creation is rooted in time-honored nostalgia, executed with a focus on quality, and innovative from just the right touch of contemporary twist.

Chef Segal has clocked time at some of the most esteemed kitchens in the country. After earning her culinary degree at Chicago’s Kendall College, Segal landed the pastry assistant post at Ambria working under Chef Judy Contino, whom Segal credits as her biggest influence. She then moved on to refine her craft in the iconic kitchens of Spago, Gordon and Charlie Trotter’s, before eventually helping Chef Michael Kornick launch his successful River North eatery, mk the restaurant. As mk’s head pastry chef, Segal developed a loyal following for her desserts like One Banana Two Banana and Cake-n-Shake, while earning numerous accolades from local and national media.

Chef Segal’s solo venture, HOTCHOCOLATE, is the culmination of her immersion in the culinary world. The menu is a marriage of fresh, clever and classic dishes and is always flavor-driven. Both savory dishes and sweet are inspired and ever-changing, right in line with Segal herself.