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Detroit Is Home To The Newly Crowned Best Pastry Chef In The U.S.

Allison Godlove
Jun.21.2022
Warda Pâtisserie is located in Detroit's historic Strathmore Building
Warda Pâtisserie is located in Detroit's historic Strathmore Building

(J.A. Dunbar / Shutterstock.com)

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  • Michigan
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  • United States
    • Allison Godlove
    Jun.21.2022

    A small, modern patisserie in the heart of downtown Detroit is home to the 2022 Outstanding Pastry Chef. Warda Bouguettaya won the James Beard Foundation honor at the awards on June 13 in Chicago. The win is a first for Detroit in nearly 30 years. 

    The Detroit Free Press said Bouguettaya fought back tears in her acceptance speech as she recounted her experience as an immigrant aiming to create a space that celebrated a borderless world. “I wanted Warda Pâtisserie to reflect the America I left my motherland for,” she said.

    Warda Pâtisserie is inspired by the seasons and Bouguettaya’s life and travels in Algeria, France, and Asia. The patisserie aims to bring to Detroit and Southeast Michigan a selection of sophisticated, hand-crafted pastries made locally. Bouguettaya opened the patisserie in 2016 as a pop-up business in the city’s Corktown Farmers Market. They continue to offer seasonal pastries made with natural ingredients and local products whenever possible. 

    There is something on the menu for everyone, but there are a few favorites: the Mango Black Sesame Financier, which is a black sesame financier filled with mango jelly; Lemon Chocolate Financiers, soft and moist little financiers made with almond flour and the finest chocolate; and Rhubarb, Pistachio & Geranium Water Tarts, Xiong’s Asian Produce Farm rhubarb baked in a creamy Almond Frangipane, with geranium water pastry cream, topped with a fragrant and barely sweet rhubarb dome that’s infused with Tunisian geranium water and a crown of ground pistachios.

    Favorites on the beverage menu include espresso drinks, organic teas, and a rotation of housemade seasonal drinks.

    Guests can enjoy their sweet treats while dining outdoors on the beautiful patio when the weather is nice. Pastries are not made with any preservatives or additives and can be bought individually or ordered for parties and events.

    Want to eat well in Detroit? Don’t miss these 9 Must-Try Michigan Farm-To-Table Restaurants.

  • Destinations
  • Detroit
  • Michigan
  • News and Tips
  • Travel News
  • United States
    • Image of Allison Godlove Allison Godlove View Full Profile

      Allison loves learning about new people and places and always jumps at the chance to take a trip. Whether it's visiting a town in her area or traveling across the country, she's up to explore!

      She has traveled outside the U.S. several times including trips to London, Switzerland, and a cruise through the Western Caribbean. Her favorite travel memory is visiting Sundsvall, Sweden, her great grandfather's birthplace. Growing up, she spent a lot of time with him, so it was special to see where he was born. It looked very similar to the town where she grew up in New York. Within the U.S., she continues to check states off the list, most recently making a trip to Alaska for her honeymoon.

      Allison spent almost 20 years of her career as a TV news anchor. She’s covered everything from political conventions to Super Bowl LV to hurricanes and, most recently, the pandemic. She is a two-time Emmy award-winning journalist. She's been recognized for her work nationally and regionally by organizations including the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists.

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