From Singaporean kitchen volunteer to the world's most expensive chocolate artisan
In short: Born in Singapore, Cherish Finden began her culinary journey at age eight. Today, she is a world-renowned pastry chef, celebrated for her technical precision and creative vision. From leading teams to Olympic gold to crafting record-breaking luxury confections, her career redefines the boundaries of high-end patisserie and television stardom.
Cherish Finden’s path to becoming a globally recognized pastry authority began in Singapore, where she started cooking for her siblings at age eight. By 14, she was working as a waitress and volunteering in kitchens, eventually enrolling at Shatec Institutes at 16. Her early career saw her honing her craft at prestigious institutions like the Raffles Hotel and Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel. Her leadership capabilities were cemented in 2000, when she guided a team of pastry chefs to victory at the IKA Culinary Olympics, a milestone that preceded her move to London in 2001.
Upon arriving in the United Kingdom, Finden established herself as a formidable force in the luxury hotel sector. During her tenure as executive pastry chef at the Langham Hotel between 2009 and 2017, she secured numerous accolades, including the 2012 Pastry Chef of the Year award from the Craft Guild of Chefs and the 2015 Macallan Lifetime Achievement Award. Her influence extended beyond the kitchen through her role as a judge on Bake Off: The Professionals, a position she has held since the show's inception as Bake Off: Crème de la Crème in 2016.
Finden’s creative output remains as ambitious as her professional trajectory. In 2018, she joined Godiva as a creative development chef, where she produced an Easter egg crafted entirely from Belgian chocolate valued at £10,000. Her entrepreneurial spirit led to the 2022 launch of her own pâtisserie, Shiok!, following her appointment as executive pastry chef at the Pan Pacific London in 2020. Though she departed the Pan Pacific in April 2023 to pursue new ventures, her legacy as a mentor and innovator continues to shape the standards of modern pastry arts.
Her television presence has further solidified her status, appearing on programs ranging from MasterChef Australia to The Wheel. Whether mentoring contestants or evaluating complex sugar work, Finden brings a rigorous, high-stakes approach to her craft that reflects her formative years in professional kitchens.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Cherish Finden
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