Brooklyn-born Sherry Yard ’91 is a celebrated pastry chef and baker, restaurateur, and author whose innovative approach has garnered three James Beard Awards and an induction into their Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America.
Nicknamed “L.A.’s Sweetheart,” for her bubbly personality and incredible pastry creations, her work became staples at events such as the Academy Awards Governors Ball, the Grammy Awards, and the Emmy Awards. There, she could often be spotted in her iconic pink chef’s jacket in support of breast cancer awareness.
She began her four-decade culinary career at the venerable Rainbow Room and went on to expand her skills as a partner within Wolfgang Puck’s empire for nearly 20 years, encompassing the crafting of masterful breads, creating menus, and opening new restaurants while simultaneously mentoring an entire generation of chefs in kitchens from Singapore to Santa Monica.
Yard has appeared on over 30 television cooking programs and is the author of two award-winning cookbooks, Secrets of Baking and Desserts by the Yard. She is currently working on her third, Cookies by the Yard.
In 2021 she opened her dream shop, Bakery by the Yard, at the beach in Southern California.
Chef Sherry Yard majored in Culinary Arts at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. He is a member of the inaugural class of CIA’s Alumni Hall of Fame.