Haute Secrets Boston: Joanne Chang of Flour Bakery + Cafe

All eyes have been on Joanne Chang, the talented pastry chef and brains behind Flour Bakery + Cafe, which she opened in Boston’s South End 15 years ago. Since then, the honors graduate of Harvard College, who has a degree in Applied Mathematics and Economics, has become quite the success story in the world of professional baking.
Photo Credit: Colin Clark

Not only does she now have four Flour bakeries to her credit (and a fifth in the works), but she also co-owns a popular restaurant in Boston’s South End, Myers + Chang, with husband Christopher Myers.

Photo Credit: Michael Harlan Turkell

Chang is also the author of three cookbooks: Flour, Spectacular Recipes from Boston’s Flour Bakery+Cafe and Flour Too, Indispensable Recipes for the Cafe’s Most Loved Sweets and Savories, Baking with Less Sugar: Recipes for Dessert using Natural Sweeteners and Little-to-No White Sugar. Next month. she is teaming up with Pinkberry New England as part of its Celebrity Swirl campaign to introduce a flavor inspired by her famous sticky buns with 10 percent of the proceeds benefiting Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign.

Photo Credit: Michael Harlan Turkell

We caught up with her recently to find out what she loves most about Boston.

Where were you born? Houston, Texas

How long in Boston? Since 1987

Where do you live now? Boston

Occupation? Pastry chef/restaurateur

Best Sushi: Cafe Sushi, Cambridge

Best Italian: Guilia

Best dessert: Ostra

Best place for a romantic date: Sorellina

Best Sunday brunch: Mistral

Best place for a power business meeting: Bristol Lounge

If you have out of town guests, which hotel would you recommend? Ritz or Four Seasons

Favorite shopping venue/boutique: Viola Lovely

Best place to buy Jewelry/Watches: Michelle Mercado

Favorite Charity Event: Taste of the Nation

Favorite Cultural Institution: Gardner Museum

Best Steakhouse: Mooo

Best Pizza: Picco

Best Gym/Athletic Facility: Harvard Stadiums

Best Driving Service: Uber

Best Museum/Exhibit: ICA

Favorite historic/legendary place to see or explore: Harvard Yard

Describe Boston in three words: Historic, navigatable, opinionated

All-around favorite locale in Boston, whether a neighborhood, restaurant, venue, or other: Esplanade esp in the fall

Best aspect of Boston: We have all of the attractions of a big city like schools, museums, theater, opera, sports, news…. while really actually being a small easy to manage town.