Shinsuke Nakajima, 50, is the Executive Pastry Chef at the Hotel New Otani in Tokyo. Nakajima's delicious creations earned him star status long before he led the Japanese team to the top at the International Patisserie Grand Prix 2009 in Tokyo this March. His signature Super Dessert Series includes masterpieces such as the Super Melon Short Cake, and sweets that combine Japanese ingredients such as sweet bean paste with Western staples such as puddings and roll cakes. A veteran on the pastry circuit, he and his team won the second prize at the 2002 World Pastry Team Championships in the United States. Still, he is not big on competing: He is happiest in the kitchen with his staff or talking shop with his mentor and friend, patissier Pierre Herme.
Be sweet to yourself! I treat myself very well. If I don't love me, who will?
Cakes need freedom, too! Just because they are sweet and don't complain, it doesn't mean we should jail them the minute they are born. I don't use baking molds and cake rings. They would feel like working in jail.