Awards & Recognition
★James Beard Award for Pastry Chef of the Year 1998
★Named one of the '10 Best Pastry Chefs in America' 1999 by Pastry Art & Design and Chocolatier magazines
★Bronze medal 2007 National Pastry Team Championships
★Bronze medal 2010 World Chocolate Masters National Selection
★Fourth place finish as chocolatier for Team USA 2013 Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie
★Guinness World Record holder for largest s'more (2024)
Notable Facts
→Former Executive Pastry Chef at Michelin-starred The French Laundry (1994-2000)
→Currently Director of Curriculum at Dandelion Chocolate in San Francisco
→Taught at Culinary Institute of America Greystone for over 20 years
→Created six-part video series 'The Everyday Gourmet: Baking Pastries and Desserts' for The Great Courses
→Hamilton College Class of 1985, selected as 2026 Commencement speaker
→Competed internationally for Team USA in pastry competitions
→Holds world record for largest s'more at 396 pounds