Marie Riddle
Bludorn Restaurant Group | Houston, TX
September 2025
Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, Marie Riddle didn’t have a clear path for her future career. But when she got to college and learned that the school had a culinary program, she found her calling. Once she graduated, Riddle decided to move to New York to take the next step in her cooking career. She joined the team at Rosa Mexicano on the Upper West Side, but the only open position was in the pastry department. After spotting a Craigslist ad for an opening at the forthcoming Boulud Sud, Riddle eagerly applied, was offered a pastry cook job, and decided to continue developing her skills in the world of pastry. She helped open the Mediterranean restaurant, learning everything she could from Pastry Chef Ghaya Oliveira before she moved to Restaurant Daniel, where she worked for the next three years.
Riddle decided to take a temporary step back from the line and worked for a catering company before joining the team at the NoMad Hotel, where she learned how to manage a team over the next three years. She then accepted a job at Milk Bar, working with Pastry Chef Christina Tosi. Riddle helped launch the bakery’s flagship NoMad store, learning to juggle and navigate requests for customized cakes and cookies.
When the pandemic hit, Riddle moved back to Asheville to be closer to family, spending a year as the head chocolatier at a local chocolate factory. In 2021, Rising Stars alum Aaron Bludorn reached out and offered her a job. Invigorated by the challenge of designing her own menu, Riddle joined the team at Bludorn in Houston. Now, she oversees Bludorn Hospitality Group’s pastry program, flexing her varied chocolate, pastry, and baking skills across the group’s four restaurants. As corporate pastry chef, Riddle is continuing to grow her team and the Bludorn group. She prioritizes educating her staff and instilling a positive kitchen culture, rotating through each restaurant and working alongside her teams to build camaraderie.
