NYC Spring 2014 Presenters:
Thiago Silva

James Beard Foundation Future Foodies Pavilion

BUY TICKETS HERE to make Vanilla Yogurt Parfaits with Coconut Granola & Berry Jam with Thiago Silva: Sunday March 2nd, 3 pm

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Hailed for his innovative cake designs, EMM Group’s Corporate Pastry Chef Thiago Silva’s creations have served as jaw-dropping centerpieces on the tables of such stars as Sofia Vergara, Miranda Kerr, and Carmelo Anthony. Having never attended culinary school, Silva has risen through the ranks of Manhattan’s restaurant landscape from the early age of 13, after his mother encouraged him to take his first cake-decorating course.

At the age of 19, Silva had his first professional experience, working as a pastry cook at Todd English’s New York City restaurant, Olives. Shortly thereafter, Silva left Olives and moved to Sant Ambroeus bakery. During his two years there, Silva was able to explore his affinity for creating cakes, ultimately deciding to further hone his skills in the kitchen at Atria.

In 2009, Silva went on to join the team at EMM Group as the Pastry Sous Chef of its flagship eatery, Abe & Arthurs. Here he perfected his craft producing art-quality cakes both quickly and frequently for a diverse group of discerning diners.

Working closely with Executive Chef Hung Huynh at CATCH, Silva has skillfully and playfully designed a pastry menu that reflects the restaurant’s identity. With marquee menu items like the Peanut Butter Cup Soufflé, Fresh Baked Cookie Bucket, and Banana Split Brulée, Silva’s confections are sleek, deconstructed takes on dessert classics that complement the sharable nature of the restaurant’s dinner menu. His imaginative and whimsical style makes Silva and his pastry department an integral component in developing the character of CATCH.

For EMM Group’s restaurant, The General, which is modern Asian, Silva created a menu utilizing flavors and inspiration from Asia such as a Green Tea Donut and Sticky Coconut Cake with coconut water sorbet shaped like a coconut. In late 2012, Silva was promoted to Corporate Pastry Chef and currently works with all of EMM Group’s restaurants including: La Cenita, Lexington Brass, CATCH, CATCH Miami and The General.

In June 2013, Silva won Zagat’s 30 Under 30 award which celebrates the 30 best chefs, mixologists, restaurateurs and other culinary types under the age of 30.

In the fall of 2013, Silva helped open EMM Group’s newest Manhattan restaurant in the Meatpacking District, La Cenita (“The Little Dinner”) which takes flavors traditionally found in Mexican cuisine and adding a modern and authentic innovation to a shareable dining style. Silva worked off of these flavors to create a menu including a S’mores Empanada with chipotle marshmallow, brownie, milk & dark chocolate and Apple Pie Taquitos with soft graham tortilla, warm apples, Mexican vanilla ice cream and Havana streusel.

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