2012
U.S. PASTRY CHEF
OF THE YEAR

2012 U.S. Pastry Chef of the Year:
The Heartwrenching 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 & Foodservice 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 display base was a tropical jelly cake with mango, passionfruit 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 bone 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 approached him, saddened and crushed as the showpiece itself, but Anthony kept it together - he may have been too stunned to fall apart.

Chef Florian Bellanger, one of the resident judges, approached him and demanded "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 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 was awarded the 2012 U.S. Pastry Chef of the Year.

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



Below, the reconstructed piece after the fall: