Jennifer Yee facts for kids
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| Born | San Francisco |
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| Cooking style | French-inspired American pastry |
| Education | Le Cordon Bleu, London |
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Jennifer Yee is a talented American chef who specializes in making delicious pastries and desserts. She grew up in San Francisco and has worked in many famous restaurants.
Jennifer has been a pastry chef in top kitchens in New York and Atlanta. Her amazing work has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation, which gives awards to top chefs.
Currently, she is the Executive Pastry Chef at Wynn Las Vegas, where she creates all the desserts for the resort.
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Jennifer's Early Career
Jennifer Yee started her cooking journey in London. From 2002 to 2003, she worked as a pastry assistant for famous chefs Gordon Ramsay and Angela Hartnett. This was while she was studying at Le Cordon Bleu, a well-known cooking school in London.
After earning her Patisserie Diploma with honors, Jennifer stayed in London. She worked as a pastry chef at Yauatcha, a restaurant owned by Alan Yau.
In 2006, Jennifer returned to the United States. She worked at Gilt Restaurant in New York, where she became the Pastry Sous Chef. This meant she was a lead assistant in the pastry kitchen.
Becoming a Head Pastry Chef
In 2009, Jennifer Yee took on her first big role as a head pastry chef. She joined Aureole restaurant, which had a Michelin star. While there, she won the Star Chefs 'Rising Star' award for pastry in 2010.
Later, Jennifer worked with Australian chef Shaun Hergatt at his restaurant, SHO Shaun Hergatt. This restaurant earned two Michelin stars. People loved her "artful" desserts and called her "petits fours" (small desserts) the best in New York City.
After SHO closed in 2012, Jennifer took on a new challenge. She became the Patissière (pastry chef) for Lafayette, a French cafe and bakery. It opened in April 2013.
Her desserts and baked goods at Lafayette received high praise from many critics. The New York Times even called her fig tart one of the best dishes of 2013.
In 2016, Jennifer left Lafayette to travel and learn more about cooking in Europe. When she returned to New York in 2017, she helped open The Grill. This restaurant earned a three-star review from the New York Times.
Soon after, Jennifer moved to Atlanta. She became the Executive Pastry Chef for Chef Linton Hopkins' group of restaurants. She worked there for five years.
In 2023, Jennifer Yee accepted her current position. She became the Executive Pastry Chef at Wynn Las Vegas.
Awards and Recognitions
Jennifer Yee has received many awards for her amazing pastry skills. These awards show how talented and respected she is in the cooking world.
- In 2010, she was named a Star Chefs Rising Star Pastry Chef.
- In 2014, she was a semi-finalist for the James Beard Foundation Outstanding Pastry Chef award.
- Also in 2014, Food and Wine Magazine named her one of their top five Best New Pastry Chefs.
- Dessert Professional magazine also listed her as one of their Top Ten Pastry Chefs in 2014.
- She was a James Beard Outstanding Pastry Chef Semi Finalist again in 2015.
- In 2016, she became a finalist for the James Beard Outstanding Pastry Chef award.
- Six years later, in 2022, she received her fourth James Beard semi-final nomination for her work in Atlanta.
Television Appearances
Jennifer Yee has also appeared on television, showing off her skills and creativity.
In December 2011, she participated in a fun Gingerbread house competition on Good Morning America. Her gingerbread house, inspired by "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas," was a favorite!
In October 2012, Jennifer appeared on Food Network's Sweet Genius. She competed against another pastry chef and won the $10,000 prize!
In October 2015, she was a judge on the show Beat Bobby Flay. She helped decide who made the best dishes in the "Trick or Treat" episode.
