2nd Annual StarChefs.com International Pastry Competition

Presented by PreGel
2011 Pastry Competition Winner Ramon Perez
Congratulations to Ramon Perez of Los Angeles' Puur Chocolat, this year's winner of the 2nd Annual StarChefs.com International Pastry Competition presented by PreGel. This year’s sweet showdown took place at the 6th Annual StarChefs.com International Chefs Congress, October 1 – 4 in New York City.
A select group of 20 international and U.S. pastry chefs competed for the grand prize and a year's worth of bragging rights. The format we introduced at last year’s competition emphasized courses of plated desserts, and it was designed to let the fine-dining restaurant pastry chef shine. This year was no different. The competition focused on elements critical to the execution of a well-rounded dessert menu: pre-dessert, plated dessert, bonbons, chocolate centerpiece, and entremets.
The competitors made their pastry magic happen on the ICC Main Stage while Congress attendees looked on. Bad boy Pastry Chef Johnny Iuzzini of Jean Georges in New York and a judge on "Top Chef: Just Desserts" was the official Executive Pastry Chef of the competition; guest judges included Pierre Hermé, David Burke, François Payard, Claudia Fleming, Elizabeth Falkner, Ron Paprocki, Curtis Duffy and Jeffrey Steingarten of Vogue. Dishes were evaluated on presentation, execution, creativity, taste, and theme.
Pastry Competitors
Name Restaurant Cicely Austin The Oval Room Joseph Baker Texas Spice Antonio Bachour KNR Restaurant Group Bettina Clair Blue Hill Tavern Dana Cree Kadeau Kymberli DeLost Japonais Christopher Ford Rogue 24 Meg Galus Park Hyatt Chicago Ian Gresik Drago Centro Manabu Inoue Morimoto Christina Kaelberer Market by Jean Georges Jiho Kim L'Espalier Chris Leung Conāt Rory MacDonald Dram John Park Lukshon Ramon Perez Comme Ça Katie Rosenhouse The Burke Group Max Santiago Gansevoort Miami Beach Vera Tong Buddakan Jennifer Yee SHO Shaun Hergatt
Alternate Pastry Competitors
Name Restaurant Luisa DeGirolamo Piping Rock Club
Emcee Keegan Gerhard talks while the pastry competitors prepare their dishesWhat is the StarChefs.com International Pastry Competition?
• An original, three-day pastry competition designed to showcase the creativity of the most talented pastry chefs in the industry
• 20 pastry chefs compete for the chance to win the grand prize (a stage in a top pastry kitchen)
Pre-competition, October 1: Pastry training and prep for Round 1
Round 1, October 2: Pre-dessert competition
Round 2, October 3: Plated dessert competition
Round 3, October 4: Finalists create three corresponding chocolate desserts, each showcasing a different technique
The first and second days of the competition are elimination rounds, culminating in three finalists on the Main Stage during the last day of the ICC. Each of the three competition rounds will be judged based on criteria specific to the items being created and presented that day.
Round 1: 20 chefs compete for 10 spots to advance to Round 2.
Round 2: 10 chefs compete for three finalist spots and prizes and advance to the final round.
Round 3: 1 pastry chef wins the grand prize.
Prizes
Grand Prize:• $5,000 and an invitation to teach a 5-Star Pastry Series Seminar with media promotion, including airfare, stipend, and accommodations near the PreGel Professional Training Center in North Carolina. Presented by PreGel
• $5,000 voucher to be used toward the purchase of any piece of Bravo equipment, presented by Bravo
• VIP pass to attend 3 days of free classes at the Cacao Barry Training Center
• A Baxter Hybrid Convection Oven
• $2,000 of Waring Commercial products
• Opportunity to be a judge at the 2012 StarChefs.com International Pastry Competition
• Profile on StarChefs.com• $3,000 voucher to be used toward the purchase of any piece of Bravo equipment, presented by Bravo
• $2,000 voucher to be used toward the purchase of any piece of Carpigiani equipment, presented by Carpigiani
• Hobart N50 5-quart mixer, presented by Hobart
• Waring Commercial Combination Food Processor with LiquiLock™ Seal System - Model WFP14SC, presented by Waring
• Traveler “Culinarist” Tote, presented by Trannon Culinary
• Profile on StarChefs.com
• Waring Commercial Spice Grinder- Model WSG30, presented by Waring
A separate demonstration kitchen will be available to continuing competitors on days one and two for their mise-en-place between elimination rounds.
TITLE SPONSOR FEATURED PRODUCT SPONSORS PANTRY SPONSORS Plateware provided by Steelite International Pantry Products Provided by US. Foods
Pastry Competition Index
2011
» Pastry Competition Wrapup
» Round 1
» Round 2
» Round 3
2010- » Purchase Pastry Competition and ICC Passes Here
- » Download Media Credentials Form
- » Sponsors
- » Behind the Scenes with 2011 Winner
Ramon Perez Profile
Puur Chocolat
- » Behind the Scenes with the 2011 Finalists
Christopher Ford Profile
Rogue 24
Antonio Bachour Profile
KNR Restaurant Group
Ramon Perez Profile
Puur Chocolat
- » 2011 Semi-Finalists
Christopher Ford
Rogue 24
Antonio Bachour
KNR Restaurant Group
Ramon Perez
Comme Ça
Dana Cree
Kadeau
Jennifer Yee
SHO Shaun Hergatt
Katie Rosenhouse
The Burke Group
Rory MacDonald
Dram
John Park
Lukshon
Christina Kaelberer
Market by Jean Georges
Jiho Kim
L'Espalier