Apastry chef or ptissier (.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-smallfont-size:85%.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-smallfont-size:100%pronounced [pɑ.ti.sje]; feminine ptissire, pronounced [pɑ.ti.sjɛʁ]) is a station chef in a professional kitchen, skilled in the making of pastries, desserts, breads and other baked goods. They are employed in large hotels, bistros, restaurants, bakeries, by caterers, and some cafs.[1]
Day-to-day operations can also require the pastry chef to research recipe concepts and develop and test new recipes. Usually, the pastry chef does all the necessary preparation of the various desserts in advance, before dinner seating begins. The actual plating of the desserts is often done by another station chef, usually the garde manger, at the time of order. The pastry chef is often in charge of the dessert menu, which, besides traditional desserts, could include dessert wines, specialty dessert beverages, and gourmet cheese platters.[3]
They are responsible for the creation and execution of dessert courses, as well as the menu's overall presentation. Pastry chefs must have a solid grasp of flavor profiles, baking processes, and food styling in order to create desserts that are both delicious and aesthetically pleasing. In addition to their technical abilities, pastry chefs must be able to work swiftly and effectively under pressure, as they are sometimes required to meet strict deadlines.[4]
Pastry chefs are also expected to fully understand their ingredients and the chemical reactions that occur when making fine pastries. Precise timing and temperatures are critically important.[5] It is generally preferred to weigh the ingredients (i.e., with a kitchen scale) as opposed to measuring by volume (e.g., with a measuring cup), as weighing inherently offers far more consistent baking results.[6]
A baker can bake a wide variety of items, including bread, rolls, pies, cakes, cookies, pastries, donuts, and more. But pastry chefs usually specialize in desserts. They may also make non-baked goods as part of their dessert recipes, like custards, sauces, and chocolates.
As for what they make, the focus is usually on desserts and sweets. A pastry chef in a patisserie might make French pastries like eclairs, macarons, and danish. They could also make tarts, scones, puff pastries, and any manner of sweet baked goods.
Bakers may also do less decorative work than pastry chefs. Pastry chefs can make complex plated desserts, while bakers spend their days making a high volume of simpler baked goods. They may do some cake decorating, like adding some basic piping. But any highly intricate decorating is usually reserved for cake decorating or design specialists.
The Retail Bakers of America offers baking-focused certifications for Journey Bakers, Certified Bakers, and Certified Master Bakers. Colette Christian, Escoffier Pastry Chef Instructor, is a Certified Master Baker through the RBA. She had to bake dozens of perfect pastries over two days to earn the title.
While the day-to-day jobs are different, bakers and pastry chefs share many common skills. Both must know the principles of baking and the science behind why a recipe works. They must both know how to work at scale, making larger or smaller batches of product based on the needs of the business. They both must have at least some decorating skills, and they must be familiar with many different baking techniques.
This overlap between the two disciplines makes it logical to teach future bakers and pastry chefs together in pastry school. Equipped with these same building blocks, students on both paths can go on to learn more in the workplace and grow into their future careers.
Contact our Admissions Department to learn more about how studying at Escoffier can help you not only learn the ropes, but also help you to discover where your passions lie within the world of baking and pastry arts.
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As a restaurant pastry chef, I used to be responsible for the day-to-day operations of my pastry departments. My exclusive focus was on making every facet of my department more efficient, creating a positive environment to work in and on being cost effective - all in addition to creating amazing desserts.
There were the fun parts of the job, like developing new menu items and working with my executive chefs to create desserts that paired perfectly with the rest of the menu. And of course, there were the tasks that I absolutely dreaded: writing schedules, taking inventory and calculating the food cost of my menu items.
In the beginning of my career, I started in small departments with one or two pastry cooks who reported to me. But as I gained more experience, my departments became larger and I found myself managing up to a dozen cooks at a time. Eventually, I began directing pastry departments in multiple restaurant locations, which continued to increase the number of pastry cooks I trained.
An artist's collection. A cake in two sizes and a mould for single portions, designed to enhance the work of every pastry chef. A leading figure in contemporary French and international patisserie, Pierre Herm has elevated patisserie to art and made it a luxury.
A pastry chef specializes in creating a wide variety of baked goods and desserts. These may include cakes, pies, pastries, cookies, bread, and other sweet treats. Pastry chefs are skilled in the art of baking, which involves precise measurements, careful timing, and a deep understanding of ingredients and techniques. They use their creativity and expertise to develop recipes, select quality ingredients, and execute intricate designs to produce visually stunning and delicious desserts.
In addition to baking, pastry chefs often have expertise in pastry arts, which includes techniques such as piping, sculpting, and decorating. They may use a variety of tools and equipment to craft elaborate desserts, from pastry bags and molds to chocolate tempering machines and sugar work tools. Pastry chefs may work in a range of settings, including bakeries, pastry shops, restaurants, hotels, catering companies, and even cruise ships. They collaborate with other kitchen staff, such as executive chefs and sous chefs, to create dessert menus that complement overall dining experiences and satisfy customers' sweet cravings.
Pastry chefs are an integral part of the culinary industry, bringing their expertise and creativity to the creation of desserts, pastries, and baked goods. They not only create delicious and visually appealing desserts but also play a significant role in enhancing the overall dining experience.
Duties and Responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities of a pastry chef encompass a wide range of tasks related to the creation, production, and presentation of baked goods and desserts. Some key responsibilities include:
The workplace of a pastry chef can vary depending on the type of establishment they work in. Pastry chefs may find employment in a range of settings, including restaurants, hotels, bakeries, pastry shops, catering companies, and even cruise ships. Each environment offers its own unique challenges and opportunities for pastry chefs to showcase their skills and creativity.
In a restaurant or hotel kitchen, pastry chefs typically work alongside other culinary professionals as part of a larger kitchen team. They may have their own designated pastry station or section within the kitchen, equipped with specialized equipment and tools for baking and pastry production. The pace can be fast-paced and demanding, especially during peak meal times or when catering to special events or banquets. Pastry chefs collaborate closely with executive chefs, sous chefs, and other kitchen staff to ensure that dessert menus complement the overall dining experience and meet the standards of the establishment.
In a bakery or pastry shop, the workplace environment may be more focused on pastry production and retail sales. Pastry chefs may spend their days mixing dough, baking pastries, decorating cakes, and packaging goods for sale to customers. The atmosphere is often bustling and lively, with a constant stream of customers coming in to purchase fresh baked goods. Pastry chefs in this setting may have more opportunities for direct interaction with customers, providing personalized service and recommendations on pastry selections.
We also start our mise en place, which is when we prepare elements of specific desserts we're serving at the moment and put together our supplies for sorbets, ice creams, and other bases for the work week.
We change our desserts and the mignardise (the bite-sized desserts served at the end of a meal) quite regularly to give us an opportunity to be creative and try new things while using the fresh local produce that's in season.
The chefs serve us great food and even cater to our allergies and dietary needs. For example, I'm the only vegetarian and our sommelier is lactose intolerant, so the food we get is made with our dietary restrictions in mind.
I prepare to serve the bread, butter, and desserts during this time. Since pastries are brought to customers toward the end of a meal, we use the time we spend waiting for dessert orders by continuing with our prep work.
La Table De Castigno offers a surprise menu so the client can choose between the grand immersion and petite experience options. For pastries, this includes a maximum of two desserts and four mignardises.
Secondly, we had a cotton-candy cloud-inspired citrus dessert, which has a yuzu parfait, lemon curd, black-lemon gel, chestnut-gnoise sponge, and streusel with a vinegar tre to pour over the cotton candy.
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