Birmingham Executive Pastry Chef Wins Elite Honor

Big Rock Chophouse and The Reserve’s executive pastry chef, Eric Voigt, was named 2015 Pastry Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation’s Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association.

This respected award recognizes a pastry chef who has displayed a passion for the craft, has an accomplished reputation in the pastry field and has helped educate others by sharing skills and knowledge.

Voigt’s award-winning dessert was a Meltaway Carmalized Chocolate featuring delicate pineapple and cherry fancier with orange foam, chantilly and salt garnish.

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“It’s such an amazing accomplishment to win this prestigious award from my peers and the American Culinary Federation’s Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association,” Voigt said in a news release. “It’s a relatively new award and only been around for the past five years so I’m honored to receive this recognition. I feel invigorated and I’m looking forward to the next chance to compete on a national level.”

He trained side-by-side with the James Beard pastry chef winner, Michael Laiskonis, now at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City, and Cory Barrett, now at The Culinary Institute of Michigan. The three chefs worked together for three years before Voigt took the reins as executive pastry chef at Tribute.

His enthusiasm and love for his craft became evident in his award-winning desserts drawing many repeat customers who became his biggest fans. After five years at Tribute filled with many successes, Voigt was selected to work at Detroit’s new MGM Grand Casino, where he worked at two Michael Mina restaurants called Saltwater and Bourbon Steak.

In 2009, he left to oversee The Dali Group Restaurants in downtown Birmingham prior to joining Big Rock Chophouse and The Reserve.

Voigt currently resides in Birminghamwith his wife, Laura, and two sons, Henre and Reme.

For the entire month of November, Big Rock Chophouse will be featuring an amuse-bouche from Voigt that will be offered with all dinner reservations.

The Pastry Chef of the Year trophy is currently on display at the restaurant. It’s engraved with all previous winners’ names and will be showcased at the restaurant over the next year.

Big Rock Chophouse is open from 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight on Fridays, and noon to midnight on Saturdays. The restaurant is closed on Sundays.

Big Rock Chophouse combines the rustic, casual feel of a mountain lodge with the high-energy electricity of a contemporary club, providing an eclectic mix unlike any other dining experience in Metro Detroit. The restaurant is also home to Got Rocks, A Diamond Crown Cigar Lounge, located upstairs from Big Rock Chophouse’s main dining room.