Pastry chef:MAGGIE LEUNG

MAGGIE LEUNG
Executive Pastry Chef
Masa's Restaurant

Born in Hong Kong, Maggie Leung spent most of her childhood in San Francisco amidst a culinary renaissance taking place across California’s ethnically diverse landscape. Her love of all things food-related stayed with her throughout her time at the University of California, where she learned to appreciate the exacting chemistry of baking through a study of molecular biology. Soon after graduation, Maggie attended culinary school at the California Culinary Academy, earning a degree in Pastry Art while simultaneously interning at Elka’s for real-world experience.

Following graduation, Maggie accepted her first position as a pastry assistant at Hawthorne Lane, where she earned her chops working with a large pastry team in a high pressure environment. Shethen moved on to Masse’s in Berkeley where she spent two years expanding her repertoire with a focus on elaborate French pastry and intricate wedding cake design.

With years of experience under her belt, Maggie joined Americano in San Francisco as Head Pastry Chef where her career skyrocketed. Maggie’s penchant for simple childhood sweets like s’mores and ice cream sandwiches drove her inspired menu as she reinvented nostalgic classics with masterful precision and superb artisanal ingredients. In 2007, Michael Bauer of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote a rave review for Americano, exclaiming: “...at Americano I'd save my calories for dessert.” Soon afterwards, Maggie accepted the position as Executive Pastry Chef at Lark Creek Inn where she earned accolades from the culinary world, including a feature in Food & Wine Magazine for her legendary LemonBlueberry Cheesecake Parfait.

In the summer of 2010, Maggie joined the prestigious culinary team at Masa’s in San Francisco as Executive Pastry Chef, where her years of experience and instinctive talents will continue to attract foodies and critics alike to a new dessert phenomenon. Working alongside superstar Executive Chef Gregory Short, Maggie continues to reinforce Masa’s position as an international culinary destination with unparalleled cuisine, both for dinner and dessert.