Michelle Polzine

Michelle Polzine is an American pastry chef, author, and former owner of the 20th Century Café in San Francisco, California.[1][2]

Biography

Polzine was born in November, 1969 and was raised in Southern California.[1][3][4] Starting at age 19 she worked as a political activist, first in Portland, Oregon on behalf of an environmental organization, then later for a women's clinic based in San Francisco.[3][4] In 1991, at the age of 22, Polzine relocated to North Carolina, and entered the restaurant industry as a dishwasher before eventually being offered positions preparing food.[1][3][2][4] After developing skills as a baker at several restaurants in Durham and Chapel Hill, Polzine returned to San Francisco to continue her culinary career in 2002.[2][3][1][4] 

Polzine opened the 20th Century Café, which focused on her interpretation of Eastern and Central European baked goods, in San Francisco in 2013.[1][2][5][6] She authored the cookbook Baking at the 20th Century Cafe: Iconic European Desserts from Linzer Torte to Honey Cake, which was published in 2020.[2]

Polzine was diagnosed with, and treated for, clear cell carcinoma in 2020.[7] Citing both her recovery from this procedure and the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food industry, Polzine permanently closed the 20th Century Café in 2020.[7][1]

Personal life

Polzine has been noted for her vintage style, favoring fashions from the 1930s to 1950's.[3] She is married to Franz Kunst and currently resides in San Francisco.[4]

Awards

Polzine was a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Pastry Chef award in 2010, 2018, and 2019.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Michelle Polzine". Food & Wine. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Polzine, Michelle; Brackett, Aya (2020). Baking at the 20th Century Cafe: iconic European desserts from linzer torte to honey cake. 20th Century Cafe (San Francisco, Calif.). New York: Artisan Books. ISBN 978-1-57965-898-4.
  3. ^ a b c d e Philipkoski, Kristen (September 11, 2013). "20th Century Cafe's Michelle Polzine: Vintage Maven Since 14". Racked SF. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Pastry of the Week". Bon Appétit. February 22, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  5. ^ Edalatpour, Jeffrey (August 13, 2020). "Michelle Polzine's Unsavory Character". SFWeekly. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  6. ^ Barmann, Jay (April 2, 2013). "An Update on Michelle Polzine's 20th Century Café, Due Later This Spring". Grub Street. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Tsai, Luke (April 7, 2020). "Star Pastry Chef Emerges From Surprise Cancer Surgery to Find a City Shut Down by Coronavirus". Eater SF. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  8. ^ "Awards Search | James Beard Foundation". www.jamesbeard.org. Retrieved April 22, 2024.