Monica Glass
Constellation Catering | Philadelphia
April 2019
Growing up in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Monica Glass enjoyed experimenting in the kitchen alongside her parents, and her interest in cooking earned her the affectionate moniker “Chef Moni” among her friends at Pennsylvania State University.
Upon graduation, Glass moved to New York to embark on a career in public relations. But after a few years she decided to switch gears to what made her most happy: pastry. Heading straight to the top, she lobbied Pastry Chef Deborah Racicot of Gotham Bar and Grill for an opportunity to learn, and subsequently joined the team full time.
Glass’ ambition to learn from the best led her next to Eric Ripert’s Le Bernardin, where she continued to develop and refine her skills under esteemed Pastry Chef Michael Laiskonis. Growing into a leadership position of her own, Glass made the move to Philadelphia where she helmed the pastry department at 10 Arts Bistro & Lounge in the Ritz Carlton. It was around this time she was diagnosed with celiac disease, causing her (heartbreakingly) to reevaluate the viability of a career in pastry. Instead of giving up, she decided to meet the challenge head on, forging a new identity as an innovative gluten-free pastry chef.
After four years with Ritz Carlton, Glass brought her skills to a new setting at Chef Mike Stollenwerk’s Fish, and then to Ken Oringer’s Clio in Boston. In 2015, Glass moved back to Philadelphia to tackle the role of executive pastry chef with the juggernaut that is Stephen Starr Catering and Events Group.
