Crystal Kass, Valentine
4130 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix,
valentinephx.com
- She has kickass credentials as a James Beard Awards semifinalist (2023) and finalist (2024) for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker.
- Creates approachable pastries and desserts infused with Southwestern ingredients, such as a heritage grain bar with puffed amaranth and sorghum; an éclair infused with chiltepin pepper; a morning bun rolled in hibiscus sugar; and sarsaparilla tiramisu with the Central American herb hoja santa.
- Wildly creative presentations inspired Eater to tag her as one of five pastry chefs “redefining desserts” nationally in 2023.
Mark Chacon, Chaconne Patisserie
720 W. Highland Ave., 602-334-6096, chaconnepatisserie.com
- Ex-journalist and Chez Panisse kitchen-hand was a 2022 James Beard Awards semifinalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker.
- Specializes in laminated morning delights like cinnamon brioche and large-format desserts like horchata sheet cake. Order them for pickup 8 a.m.-noon daily or find them every Saturday morning at the Uptown Farmers Market.
- He’s well syndicated! You can now find his cream cheese danishes at Press Coffee or a cardamom croissant bun at Moxie Coffee Company.
