SEATTLE, WA — Moonrise Bakery, located in the heart of the Queen Anne neighborhood, is amping up its pastry program with the addition of a new executive pastry chef: Michele Pompei. His thirty years of experience encompasses classical and contemporary European training, two beloved bakery projects, a James Beard recognition, and a semifinalist position in a nationally broadcasted baking competition. Suffice to say he brings a wealth of knowledge—and showstopping pastries—to Moonrise Bakery.

This press release was provided to Sprudge for Sprudge Press Releases. Interested in submitting a press release? Get in touch! Recent releases:

Michele is no stranger to the Seattle bakery scene. Nor is he new to Olympia Coffee. When he and his wife Coral started Bakehouse 55 in a shared kitchen in Seattle, the Olympia-based roasting company stocked their pastries in cafes across the Puget Sound region. “Seattle has a good food scene, but pastry-wise things were kind of just starting,” reflects Michele. “The croissant trend was just in the beginning stage. We did these bi-colored croissants that nobody was doing in 2014. And we got a lot of attention for it, probably because we were some of the first to start this trend.”

When the opportunity arose to purchase Walla Walla Bread Company, the pair relocated their operations to Eastern Washington. Leaving Seattle—and an adoring fan base—temporarily bereft of his talents. Still, Michele’s career continued to bloom. He appeared on Food Network’s Best Baker in America in 2021, making it all the way to the semifinals. He also filmed with the show Alex vs. America in an episode that has yet to air.

advert new rules of coffee now available

 

With the invitation from Olympia Coffee to head the pastry program at Moonrise Bakery, Michele has now returned to Seattle. Yet the scene looks much different than when he left in 2018.

“Between bakers and chefs there has always been a kind of secret,” Michele shared. “They don’t easily share what they know. But social media has made it easier for people to learn and replicate what others can do. Now that I’m back, the competition is harder.”

Not that Michele is letting that slow him down. Since his arrival at Moonrise Bakery, he has re-crafted the menu into a dazzling display that treats both eyes and taste buds alike. One can still find his famous bi-color croissants, now joined by a stunning host of laminated pastries, scones, muffins, and more.

With Moonrise’s recently released fall menu, Michele has gone big with flaky features such as a meringue-topped, pumpkin-filled croissant and a wild mushroom and Gruyère Danish. And while he’s simply happy to be doing what he loves to do, he’s not stopping at that. “I want to put Moonrise on the list of the best bakeries in Seattle,” he said. “Hopefully we can get there.”

More on this story from Moonrise Bakery:

About Moonrise Bakery
Moonrise Bakery is a neighborhood bakery in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. With seasonally-inspired flavors, superb quality of craft, and unforgettably warm service, Moonrise offers freshly baked croissants along with a carefully curated pantry and bottle shop. Part of the Olympia Coffee family, Moonrise Bakery supplies pastries to Olympia Coffee cafes across Olympia, Tacoma, and Seattle. Moonrise is a certified B Corporation and a Living Wage Leading Plus Employer. Their coffee program supports better-than-fair sourcing standards through Olympia Coffee’s industry-leading Fair For All certification.

This press release was provided to Sprudge for Sprudge Press Releases. Interested in submitting a press release? Get in touch!