Elaine Lau
Sunday Bakeshop | Oakland, CA
november 2022
Elaine Lau grew up in her family’s restaurant, witnessing firsthand how food has the power to bring people together. Her parents wanted her to pursue a career in pharmaceuticals, but Lau couldn’t imagine herself at a 9-to-5 desk job. Going against her gut, she decided to go college to study business anway, but quickly had a change of heart. In 2010, she enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, making wedding cakes, working catering gigs, and picking up shifts at a friend's bakery in her spare time.
While at CIA, Lau interned at Manresa, and after graduating, continued staging at some of San Francisco’s most notable restaurants, such as Atelier Crenn and Benu. She fell in love with the meticulousness and precision of the kitchen. In 2014, she joined the team at Nico Bistro with Rising Stars alum Chef Nico Delaroque. Under the guidance of Delaroque, she learned how important it was to take the time to care for and educate your team. After four years at Nico Bistro, Lau moved on to Cafe Attila for two years, working savory and pastry positions in both kitchens.
In 2020, she accepted a position on the pastry team at Sunday Gather. With the encouragement of Chef and Co-founder Deuki Hong, Lau started to develop a concept of her own. In June 2021, Lau opened Sunday Bakeshop in Oakland. There, she seamlessly ties in classic French technique with the Asian flavors she grew up with. For Lau, Sunday Bakeshop is the bakery she always wanted. From White Rabbit cookies to Char Siu croissants, Lau evokes a sense of comfort and nostalgia through complex but approachable flavors.
2022 StarChefs San Francisco-Oakland Rising Stars Award Winner
