DINING
by Dai Huynh, staff writer
Rebecca Masson
Find out about your favorite chefs, and where they like to eat, in our Chef’s Corner column. This month, restaurant writer Dai Huynh interviews chef Rebecca Masson.
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pened last May, Fluff Bake Bar is a delicious addition to the vibrant Houston food scene, snagging this year’s Favorite Bakery award from My Table magazine. That’s not surprising when the creative mind behind this dessert destination is the Sugar Fairy herself: Wyoming native Rebecca Masson. After her stint as a season 2 Top Chef: Just Desserts contestant, this feisty redhead decided to take on the challenge of opening her own shop. Typical of the Sugar Fairy, she did it her way and on her own terms. She raised $53,000 in seed money through Kickstarter, a crowdfunding site where artists, inventors, chefs and other creative types solicit money from friends and fans. A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, Rebecca realized her childhood dream when she opened the Midtown, 1,200-square-foot Fluff Bake Bar (314 Gray Street), a brand she launched in 2011 when she supplied bake goods and custom cakes to top restaurants, specialty markets and coffee shops around town. A fan, I’ve chased her desserts for years at these various locales – most notably Revival Market in the Heights. The former apprentice of famed star-chef Daniel Boulud has a rare ability of giving homey classics an upscale and often unusual twist. Her creations bring to mind goodies you might have tasted in Grandma’s kitchen, but elevated to new heights. Recently, Rebecca dusted flour off her apron and sat down to chat about what else? Luscious sweets. One of your most popular signature desserts is the Couch Potato, a chocolate chip cookie swirled with potato chips, pretzels, corn flakes and marshmallows. Now this may sound like a bad accident waiting to happen. But the cookie tastes amazing. How did you come up with this crazy combo? We saw this trend of snacks going into cookies and ice creams, so we decided to give it a try. BELLAIRE BUZZ DECEMBER 2016 28
I took a bunch of cookies as inspirations and threw in all the ingredients I liked best. I have been using pretzels for a long time, like my chocolate pretzel tart. I’ve always enjoy that sweet and salty flavors. The fast-growing national chain, Shake Shack, recently opened in Galleria Mall. Along with great burgers, I heard that one of your desserts will be feaFLUFF BAKE BAR Pastry chef Rebecca Masson garnered a loyal following tured in their famous using the best ingredients for her updated classic treats. frozen custards. You also can’t go wrong with the pork belly The Veruca Salt devil’s food cupcake with saltkatsu, karaage fried chicken or the pork belly ed caramel buttercream, pretzel and milk chocodon with rice. late crunch. Apparently before the Shake Shack Your first gig was at the legendary Hotel opened, they were on a secret mission, going to Le Bristol in Paris. The City of Lights the various bakeries around town to sample the remains a favorite vacation spot. Now, many goods. Afterwards, they emailed me to send a box people consider the famous and varied macof pastries that I thought would be delicious in a arons from Pierre Hermé as the gold stancustard. They chose the Veruca Salt! dard. Where do you go for desserts and macFluff Bake Bar is across from the renovated arons when in Paris? Midtown Park, surrounded by shops and I always go to Gérard Mulot on Rue de Seine. restaurants. To this day, since 2000, he has made my favorite This area is made for progressive dining. It’s macarons. In the U.S., Big Gay Ice Cream in pretty walkable. You can easily park and graze. New York City is delicious. I love what they’re Of course, you would end at Fluff for coffee doing, the snarkiness of it. The flavor combos and Sugar Hooker Oreos. But where should are fun. You get to eat the Bea Arthur (vanilla we start? ice cream with Nilla Wafers and dulce leche) Oporto Fooding House & Wine (125 W. Gray and the Salty Pimp (vanilla ice cream with sea Street) for tapas. I like the batatas, smashed fingersalt and chocolate chips). ling potatoes with tomato chutney and garlic aioli. We’ll also order the pizzette with smoked broccoli Editor’s note: Buzz dining columnist Dai Huynh and ricotta cheese and the bife a portuguesa, a beef is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and tenderloin with fried egg and potatoes. longtime Houston-based restaurant writer. My second stop would be Izakaya (318 Gray Street), my neighbor. For sure, I would order the mochi and bacon, which is Japanese rice cake See thebuzzmagazines.com/restaurants for wrapped in bacon. Yum! I just love it there; it’s restaurant listings. Use the restaurant finder to a lively atmosphere. I love sitting at the counter. search by area, cuisine and price. Leave a comment You can’t call it a sushi counter because they online or write to info@thebuzzmagazines.com with don’t serve sushi; they serve poke. I love watchyour dining stories and suggestions. ing the chef cut up seafood for the fish salads. Julie Soefer Photography
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