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Tastemaker Pastry Chefs

Tastemaker Best Pastry Chef nominees craft sweet, edible art at Dallas restaurants

Teresa Gubbins
Apr 11, 2014 | 1:59 pm

Welcome to the second category reveal in the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, our celebration of the talent in the Dallas food and drink community. We've already taken a look at the nominees for Best Rising Star Chef. Now it's time to celebrate the mad scientists of the kitchen: pastry chefs.

The Best Pastry Chef contenders are like wizards, who take everyday ingredients and, using chemistry and imagination, magically transform them into edible works of art. It's the sweetest category of all.

Jill Bates, Fearing's
After earning two degrees — one in restaurant, hotel and institutional management from Texas Tech and another in culinary arts from San Francisco's California Culinary Academy — Jill Bates worked at restaurants in San Francisco before returning to Texas. In Dallas, she's done pastry for Dragonfly and Craft Dallas before joining Dean Fearing at Fearing's. Eater dubbed her "Hottest Chef in Dallas."

Nicolas Blouin, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek
A native of France, Nicolas Blouin started working at a bakery in his hometown of Toulouse when he was 15. He's bounced back and forth between America and Europe, from the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resort hotel to a series of Michelin-starred restaurants in Switzerland and France to the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Nancy Castillo, Reverie Bakeshop
Former cake decorators Nancy Castillo and Racene Mendoza blazed a trail when they opened Reverie Bakeshop in Richardson, the Dallas area's first vegan bakery, in 2013. Castillo, a vegan herself, attended Le Cordon Bleu, then worked at area bakeries such as Tu-Lu's and Petit Fours.

Stephanie Childress, Gemma
A native of Kerrville, Stephanie Childress attended the Culinary Institute of America before working for Mario Batali in Las Vegas at B&B, Enoteca and Otto. More recently, she worked at Bradley Ogden in Las Vegas. She's currently ensconced at one of Dallas' most talked-about restaurants, where her desserts favor fruit flavors and simplicity.

David Collier, Spoon
Creative and innovative, David Collier started his Dallas career at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, where he worked during the John Tesar era. He left the Mansion in 2011 and headed for the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia, where his family lives. He returned to Dallas in early 2013 to re-join Tesar as pastry chef at Spoon.

Lucia Merino, Oak
A 27-year-old native of Puerto Rico, Lucia Merino comes with a long and interesting resume that includes a degree from Johnson & Wales in Miami, as well as stints at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort and the Ritz-Carlton in Key Biscayne. She moved to Dallas from Miami specifically to join the staff at Oak; her approach in pastry is to start with the classic desserts and give them a spin.

Ruben Torano, CBD Provisions
Ruben Torano comes from a pastry family: His father, Rafael, was also a pastry chef who worked at the Warwick Melrose Hotel. Ruben has been at The Joule dating back to the Charlie Palmer days and supervises not only the pastry at CBD, but also the hotel. Previously he did pastry for Nobu and Nana, where he worked for two years with chef Anthony Bombaci.

Kate Weiser, Kate Weiser Chocolate
With her combination of perfectionism and artfulness, Kate Weiser has carved out a niche as Dallas' best chocolatier. She first attracted attention for her gorgeous, gem-like creations at Chocolate Secrets on Oak Lawn Avenue. She has since gone solo, with plans to open her own eponymous spot at Trinity Groves.

Laurel Wimberg, AF+B
A native of Kansas, Laurel Wimberg is a critics' favorite who first came into the public eye as pastry chef at the splashy Craft Dallas. She did pastry for the short-lived JoJo's, then for restaurateur Shannon Wynne at Lark on the Park, before joining Consilient Hospitality, where she makes desserts for AF+B in Fort Worth and Fireside Pies.

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Come celebrate the Tastemakers with us on Tuesday, May 6, at Seven for Parties in the Dallas Design District. To learn more about the event, including information about our beneficiaries, judges, participating restaurants and ticket sales, visit our Tastemakers website.

Lucia Merino, Oak

Oak pastry chef Lucia Moreno
Photo by Marc Lee [https://marcsclips.com/]
Lucia Merino, Oak
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Strawberry butter forever

Neiman Marcus Bridal Salon and Zodiac Room live on at NorthPark Dallas

Stephanie Allmon Merry
Oct 2, 2026 | 9:23 am
Rendering of the new Neiman Marcus Bridal Salon at NorthPark
Rendering courtesy of Neiman Marcus and Arcadis Inc.
Rendering of the new Neiman Marcus Bridal Salon at NorthPark.

The Neiman Marcus flagship store in downtown Dallas closed its doors for good on September 30, and some longtime customers were so bereft, they dressed in black and laid flowers at the food of the entrance. Many took to social media to share memories of shopping for bridal gowns, dining at The Zodiac Room, and visiting with Santa at Christmas time.

Now there's a ray of light for those mourning the loss: Some of the most most beloved "downtown Neiman's" traditions are getting a second life at NorthPark.

The day after the downtown closure, Neiman Marcus revealed that The Zodiac Room, Bridal Salon, and Santa would move to the NorthPark store.

According to a statement from parent company Exemplar Luxury Group, the additions are part of planned enhancements to the NorthPark store designed to build on Neiman Marcus' history while creating new experiences for customers.

“As we close an important chapter in our history, we do so with immense gratitude for the generations of associates and customers who made our Downtown store so special," the company says. "We are excited to enhance our NorthPark store by infusing new elements that celebrate our storied history, continuing to evolve the experience where our customers prefer to shop.”

Rendering of The Zodiac Room entrance at NorthPark Rendering of The Zodiac Room entrance at NorthPark.Rendering courtesy of Neiman Marcus and Arcadis Inc.

The Zodiac Room popovers live on
One eagerly anticipated arrival is The Zodiac Room, which will open November 20 in the former NM Café space at NorthPark.

"The existing space will be transformed with key design elements from the Downtown Zodiac Room including the turquoise walls, plush banquets, and one-of-a-kind art," the company says.

The menu will be filled with the Zodiac's longtime favorites, including its signature chicken broth, popovers with strawberry butter, Stanley Marcus pot roast, and mandarin orange soufflé - alongside some newly created dishes.

The restaurant will serve a special holiday 2026 feast from November 20-January 2, giving Dallas diners a chance to continue a seasonal tradition that dates back decades. Reservations are now available through OpenTable. (Per a store representative, the restaurant is still listed as NM Cafe NorthPark in OpenTable and will change soon.)

Rendering of The Zodiac Room at NorthPark. Rendering of The Zodiac Room at NorthPark.Rendering courtesy of Neiman Marcus and Arcadis Inc.

The Zodiac's move had been teased at the September 17 Crystal Charity Ball Ten Best Dressed Women of Dallas Fashion Show and Luncheon, the final event held at the downtown store. Mary McGreevy, chief stores officer for Exemplar Luxury Group, told the audience, "As we look forward to our future and continuing our legacy of Neiman Marcus at NorthPark, we will celebrate more events, we will celebrate with elevated shopping experiences, and our newly reimagined Zodiac Room, which will be opening right before the holidays."

Now they confirm it will open the week before Thanksgiving.

Here comes the Bridal Salon
In white-hot bridal news, the Neiman Marcus Bridal Salon will also make the move to NorthPark, relocating to the lower level of the store and "offering an intimate space for one of life’s most meaningful experiences," Exemplar says in the statement.

"It was important for the company to continue this tradition as many customers have generations of family members that are Neiman’s brides," they say. "The company will continue to service existing brides with their alterations and fittings at the NorthPark store while the new space is under construction."

Neiman Marcus NorthPark Bridal Salon rendering. Neiman Marcus NorthPark Bridal Salon rendering.Rendering courtesy of Neiman Marcus and Arcadis Inc.

It also fulfills a longtime need for a bridal salon at NorthPark Center in general.

The Neiman Marcus Bridal Salon is scheduled to open in early December. Customers can make new bridal salon appointments via their sales associate or by calling the store.

Santa Claus is coming to NorthPark
One downtown fixture will make the move in person (plug your ears, kids): Felix Estridge, the store's longtime Santa, will bring his Christmas cheer to NorthPark after Thanksgiving. According to the company, he'll continue traditions including photos with Santa and Breakfast with Santa, along with Storytime with Santa and Dine with Santa.

Tickets for the holiday events are now available online.

Neiman Marcus Santa Santa's ready to visit with kiddies at Neiman Marcus NorthPark.Photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus

Downtown art will live on
The downtown store's art collection won't be kept entirely in Dallas.

According to Exemplar, historic art pieces from the flagship will find new homes throughout the Neiman Marcus portfolio, allowing customers around the country to experience pieces of the company's history.

The original Neiman Marcus opened in Dallas in 1914. After years of uncertainty surrounding the downtown location, the company announced in June 2026 that it would close the flagship and concentrate its Dallas presence at NorthPark.

The downtown store's September 30 closing ended a long saga over its future. Neiman Marcus had originally planned to close the location in 2025, then kept it open through the holiday season while exploring options for the store. Six months later, the closure was announced.

"For more than a century, this store has held a cherished place in our history and in the lives of our customers, helping shape Neiman Marcus into the iconic luxury retailer it is today," Exemplar says. "The spirit of innovation, exceptional service and deep customer relationships that defined our Downtown store will continue to guide us as we honor our rich heritage and embrace our bright future. Dallas remains an incredibly important market for the Neiman Marcus brand."

downtown dallas zodiac room bridal boutique northpark center shopping neiman marcus
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