Johnny Iuzzini facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johnny Iuzzini
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Iuzzini in 2014
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| Born | August 31, 1974 |
| Occupation | Pastry chef, cookbook author, TV celebrity |
| Years active | 1994–present |
Johnny Iuzzini (born August 31, 1974) is a famous American pastry chef. He is also a television star and has written several cookbooks. Johnny Iuzzini worked as the main pastry chef at well-known restaurants like Daniel and Jean Georges. He has written two cookbooks and was a judge on the first three seasons of The Great American Baking Show.
Contents
Early Life and Background
Johnny Iuzzini was born on August 31, 1974. He grew up in the Catskills area of New York. His father worked with plumbing and heating. His mother was a helper for veterinarians and cared for wild animals.
Johnny's Culinary Journey
Starting in the Kitchen
Johnny's first job was washing dishes at a local golf club. This was after school when he was young. He was also studying cooking in his high school's special program. Johnny won his first cooking award in a New York City competition. He finished in second place.
At age seventeen, he started working in New York City. He helped Pastry Chef Eric Gouteyron. Soon after, he decided to focus on making desserts full-time. This was the start of his career as a pastry chef. He went to The Culinary Institute of America. He graduated in 1994 with a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts.
Becoming a Top Pastry Chef
While at the Culinary Institute, Johnny worked with pastry chef Lincoln Carson. Later, Johnny and Lincoln worked for Francois Payard. For over three years, Johnny managed all the dessert areas at the Daniel restaurant. He became Payard's close assistant. When Payard opened his own place in 1997, Johnny was chosen as the sous chef. He continued to work at Daniel too.
In 1998, Johnny traveled to learn more about pastry. He worked in many top bakeries around the world. After eight months, he came back to New York. He worked for Daniel Boulud, helping to open new restaurants. In 2001, when Johnny was 26, Boulud made him the main Executive Pastry Chef.
In 2002, Jean-Georges Vongerichten chose Johnny to be the Executive Pastry Chef at his Restaurant Jean Georges. Johnny won many awards for his amazing work. New York Magazine named him the "Best Pastry Chef" in 2002. He was nominated for "Outstanding Pastry Chef of the Year" by the James Beard Foundation in 2003. Pastry Art and Design Magazine called him one of the "Ten Best Pastry Chefs in America" in 2003 and 2004. In 2006, he won the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef of the Year. In 2007, Forbes magazine named him one of the "10 Most Influential Chefs in America."
Consulting and Teaching
In 2011, Johnny Iuzzini started his own company called Sugar Fueled, Inc. He uses this company to teach others about pastry and cooking. He often gives live demonstrations of his baking skills. In 2014, he began working with Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts.
Television Appearances
In September 2010, Johnny Iuzzini became a head judge. He appeared on the American reality competition show Top Chef: Just Desserts. This show was on the Bravo TV channel. He was a judge for two seasons. In 2014, he also appeared as a contestant. This was on the "Superstar Sabotage" tournament of Cutthroat Kitchen.
Books by Johnny Iuzzini
Johnny Iuzzini has written two cookbooks. His first book is called Dessert Fourplay. It shares recipes based on the small dessert collections he created at Jean Georges. His second cookbook is named Sugar Rush. This book was written for people who like to bake at home.
