12 Facts About Johnny Iuzzini

Johnny Iuzzini served as executive pastry chef at Daniel from 2001 through 2002 and at Jean Georges from 2002 through 2011.

Johnny Iuzzini was born on August 31,1974, and raised in the Catskills region of New York.

Johnny Iuzzini's father was a plumbing and heating technician, his mother a veterinarian assistant and wildlife rehabilitator.

Johnny Iuzzini garnered his first cooking award by finishing second in a New York City culinary competition.

Johnny Iuzzini then switched jobs to work making desserts full-time, launching his career as a pastry chef.

Johnny Iuzzini attended The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, graduating in 1994 with a Baking and Pastry Arts degree.

When Payard opened his Payard Patisserie and Bistro in 1997, Johnny Iuzzini was selected as sous chef while continuing to work at Daniel.

In 1998, Johnny Iuzzini studied pastry technique while staging at several of the country's finest patisseries.

In 2006, Johnny Iuzzini was awarded Outstanding Pastry Chef of the Year by the James Beard Foundation.

In 2011 Johnny Iuzzini started a pastry and culinary arts consulting company, Sugar Fueled, Inc, performing demonstrations of pastry techniques to live audiences.

In September 2010, Johnny Iuzzini was cast for two seasons as head judge on the American reality competition show Top Chef: Just Desserts on the Bravo cable television network.

In Dessert Fourplay, Johnny Iuzzini provides recipes based upon his after-dinner quartet offerings from Jean Georges.