Chris Kujala: Pastry Chef

“An ideal dessert should be luscious, colorful, and composed, yet appear spontaneous and natural.” This approach to desserts and cooking lies evident in all his 20 plus years of culinary work. A native of South Bend, Indiana, Christopher Kujala spent a portion of his life growing up in New Orleans, Louisiana were food was always in the forefront.

Starting in 1987, Christopher received classical training at the Baltimore International Culinary College, earning an Associates of Arts degree in Restaurant and Culinary Skills in 1989.As well as a Certificate of Achievement in European Culinary Arts earned in Dublin, Ireland.

Christopher spent the greater part of his career cooking on the line, but then he switched to his longtime passion, pastry. “While I appreciate the merits of other courses and feel that my experience with “savory” cooking has refined my palate and has given me the ability to create distinct desserts, preparing desserts has always given me a greater degree of satisfaction.”

Hired in 2000, Christopher Kujala worked as the Executive Pastry Chef at Kinkead’s Restaurant in Washington, D.C. working closely with Chef Bob Kinkead over the years, helping to refine and heighten the pastry department. During his five years at Kinkead’s Chef Kujala was nominated “Best Pastry Chef of the Year” (“Rammy”) three years in a row (2003, 2004, 2005) by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington and won the coveted “Rammy” award for Best Pastry Chef in 2005. Christopher desserts are updated versions of American and European classics without losing the essence of their original idea. They are familiar and inviting with an added flair and are straightforward in their composition, using only the freshest and the best quality ingredients. “I do not like to mask the basic flavors of the ingredients.”

Christopher’s career, over the years, has brought him to restaurants including, The Inn at Perry Cabin (St. Michaels, Md.), Westfield’s Conference Center (Chantilly, Va.), The Country Club of Fairfax (Fairfax, Va.) and The Ritz-Carlton (Tysons Corner, Va.), to name just a few.

In November 2005 Chef Kujala and his wife and co-owner Elizabeth opened there own, long anticipated, “Sweet Dreams Pastry Shop” in Annapolis, Maryland. “Opening our own bakery has not only been a dream come true for us, but it’s also been a tremendous reward for all our hard work we put in over the years.”

Pastry Chef Kujala’s achievements abound, including the development and preparing desserts at James Beard Foundation dinner (New York, NY), instructing pastry seminars at local schools, involvement with charity and fundraising events and competing in local chocolate and pastry events.

“I always try and let my desserts speak for themselves, ultimately, it comes down to making each individual happy and being the consummate perfectionist that I am, I will always strive to create the best desserts anyone has ever tried. After all that’s said and done…it’s the ooh’s and aah’s that I live for.”