Zachary and Hannah Welton
Weltons Tiny Bakeshop | Charleston, SC
NOVEMBER 2024
On days off from school, Zachary Welton and his brother would join their mother at the restaurant where she worked, helping the dishwashers and watching the mesmerizing flow of service. By the time he was 16, Zachary was hooked on the camaraderie of the kitchen and got a job at a pizza shop in Albany, New York. He went off to culinary school in San Francisco, but dropped out after a few days, preferring to work the line and learn on the job. Zachary returned to Albany and joined the team at the New World Bistro Bar, where he worked his way up to chef de cuisine. In search of a new challenge, he headed to Charleston to work for Chef Sean Brock at Husk. There, he dove into live fire cooking, explored local produce, and met his future wife and business partner.
Before starting her career in restaurants, Hannah Welton had zero interest in food. She wanted to be a dancer. After high school, she was set to join the Houston Ballet, but a graduation trip to Italy changed her perspective. She fell in love with the cuisine and returned home with a passion for restaurants. Hannah started working as a hostess at Rising Stars alum Chris Shepherd’s Underbelly, eventually staging at the restaurant before enrolling in culinary school in Austin. In 2015, she moved to Charleston and joined the team at Husk, working the line and developing relationships with local farmers and producers while learning from Rising Stars alum Travis Grimes.
In 2018, the couple set out on a month-long road trip before moving down to Tulum to work at Hartwood for the next year and a half. When they returned to the U.S., they moved to Houston where Zachary became the sous chef at Rising Stars alum June Rodil’s March while Hannah learned patisserie from Rising Stars alum Shawn Gawle. In 2021, they came back to Charleston with a mobile wood-fired pizza truck, selling naturally leavened pizzas at breweries and events before moving to a commissary space. In 2023, Zachary and Hannah opened Weltons Tiny Bakeshop, where their culinary experiences guide a seasonal menu of pastries, sandwiches, and breads. With a focus on methodical growth, they have continued to operate their pizza truck and steadily built a passionate team.
2024 StarChefs Charleston-Savannah Rising Stars Award Winner
