Riga, February 13, 2014 – From Monday, February 17 to 19 renowned American pastry chef Michael Laiskonis will visit Riga. During his three day visit Laiskonis will participate in various events, including leading a pastry master class for Latvian chefs and teaching youth from Latvia’s SOS children’s villages how to prepare delicious and healthy meals. On 19th February, Laiskonis will surprise a few lucky followers of the U.S. Embassy’s social media accounts, by preparing a special treat for them and signing printed out recipes at the Tallink Hotel Riga restaurant.
Michael Laiskonis is a New York based American chef and pastry professional of Lithuanian descent. His deserts are the unique combination of Lithuanian and American traditions, enhanced by the chef’s artistic qualities and background in visual arts. Until 2012 Laiskonis worked as the executive pastry chef of New York’s Le Bernardin. During his career he has received numerous awards – in 2004 Laiskonis was named Bon Appétit’s Pastry Chef of the Year, Starchefs.com declared him a “Rising Star” in 2006 and he was named Outstanding Pastry Chef in 2007 by the James Beard Foundation. Additionally, he was twice named one of the 10 Best Pastry Chefs in America. Food writers and gourmets praise his deserts, characterizing them as “sophisticated without being pretentious, multifaceted but not unduly fanciful”. Laiskonis is now the creative director at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York. He also collaborates with companies such as the Ritz Carlton hotels and Starbucks. Recently his writing has appeared in The Huffington Post and The Atlantic.
For further information, please contact the Public Affairs section of The U.S. Embassy.
