Michelle Polzine is an American pastry chef, author, and former owner of the 20th Century Café in San Francisco, California. [1] [2]
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]
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]
Polzine was a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Pastry Chef award in 2010, 2018, and 2019. [8]
Michelle Polzine is an American pastry chef, author, and former owner of the 20th Century Café in San Francisco, California. [1] [2]
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]
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]
Polzine was a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Pastry Chef award in 2010, 2018, and 2019. [8]