Melissa Denmark
April 15, 2014 marks a special day for us here at Gracie’s and Ellie’s. Our friend and pastry chef, Melissa Denmark, will be honored as a Rising Star in the Coastal New England culinary scene. She is one of 32 people to receive this award from the online culinary magazine, Star Chefs.
Who are the rising stars? They are a group of culinary professionals who represent the forefront of American cuisine. Creativity, ambition, presentation and, most important, delicious food or drink, is the hallmark of a StarChefs’ Rising Star.
Here is what they have to say about Melissa:
“For Melissa Denmark, pastry wasn’t so much a career choice, as it was a biological imperative from a young age—baking is in her bones. Now, as a bonafide pastry chef at Gracie’s in Providence, she leaves no resource untapped in a constant search for flavor, product, and ideas. Ambitious and focused, she takes broad concepts like romance or common ingredients, like the bay leaf, and conceives singular composed dishes. But all Denmark’s desserts share a common bond: they have it all.
No matter the technique or profile she’s highlighting, every plate is sweet, salty, sour, bitter, smooth, spongy, crunchy, creamy. Even Denmark’s “sweet” has subtle variation: savory-sweet, tart-sweet, rich-sweet. And if her work at Gracie’s—a restaurant synonymous with Providence—wasn’t enough, she has spearheaded the bread and pastry program at Ellie’s Bakery, making Denmark’s food an imperative in Providence.”
White Yam Custard, Brown Butter Shortbread, Pomegranate, Crème Fraîche Ice Cream, and Sorrel
The winners of the Rising Star award have strong, compelling culinary philosophies, and are committed to building a culinary community by sharing their knowledge with fellow professionals. They are the future of American cuisine.
We are thrilled, honored, and grateful to have Melissa working with us. Congratulations Melissa! You deserve it!
