2012 U.S. Pastry Chef of the Year:
The Heart-Wrenching Victory

On March 4, 2012, Pastry Chef Anthony Smith competed against 19 others in the 23rd Annual U.S. Pastry Competition, held at International Restaurant & Food service Show, in the Javits Center. Presented by Paris Gourmet, the 2012 theme was “The Four Elements: Earth, Wind, Fire and Water”.

Chef Smith designed a spectacular showpiece built in layers, with a sea blue cast sugar base and blown sugar tropical fish to represent water, and a uniquely created chocolate globe with carved swirls revealing crystalline sugar beneath, for earth and wind. In addition, Mother Earth was molded in chocolate and framed in different styles of foliage, and the showpiece was (originally) topped by a magnificently airbrushed blown sugar dragon, for the element of fire. Showcased on the blue cast sugar base was a tropical jelly cake with mango, passion fruit and coconut, coated in a shiny orange gloss and with a pulled sugar flower.

While working methodically to construct his masterpiece, Chef Smith turned his back for one brief moment and heard a gut wrenching CRUNCH, as he saw people’s expressions turn to shock and horror. Then came the shattering CRASH of sugar as it all came down like broken glass, falling from 4-feet above into a pile on the banquet table below.

Friends and mentors rushed to his table, but Anthony kept it together. Chef Florian Bellanger, one of the resident judges, approached him and asked “What are you going to do now, Anthony? What are you going to do?!?”Anthony responded, “I’m going to make the best of it”, and he began clearing away the shards of sugar and reassembling the remaining components as quickly as possible, knowing that the judging process was about to start.

For the first time in history, a contestant with a fallen showpiece won first place, and Anthony Smith won first place and was awarded the gold medal and granted the illustrious title “Pastry Chef of the Year”.

Chef Florian Bellinger tweeted:
“9 am / Anthony smith winner showpiece #USpastrycompetition (before it collapsed and had to reassemble again)”
(Left) pic.twitter.com/5MXbvE6c

All my thanks to my assistant Thalia! <3