Juan Gutierrez

Juan Gutierrez is a Colombian-born pastry chef shaping a distinctive path in American dining through a combination of technical precision, creative range, and a clear personal point of view. At just 30, he oversees the development of desserts across more than 75 restaurants within the Lettuce Entertain You portfolio, contributing to concepts in Chicago and beyond, including Miru, Tre Dita, Summer House, and Sushi-san.

Born and raised in Cartago, near Bogotá, Gutierrez discovered an early sense of refuge in the kitchen, cooking alongside his mother and grandmother. Though initially pushed toward a career in medicine, he chose pastry instead, leaving medical school after six months to pursue a path that felt more aligned with his identity and ambitions. After early training experiences that fell short of expectations, he moved to Chicago to attend the French Pastry School, one of the only culinary programs in the United States dedicated exclusively to pastry.

Gutierrez began his professional career at the historic Pump Room under Jean-Georges Vongerichten, later holding roles at Gilt Bar and Longman & Eagle, where he became executive pastry chef at a MICHELIN-starred restaurant at 24. During the pandemic, he expanded his skills independently, documenting his work with chocolate online, which led to a breakthrough appearance—and win—on Netflix’s School of Chocolate.

Today, Gutierrez continues to build a body of work defined by both visual impact and flavor, developing desserts that balance playfulness with technical rigor. Across a growing national platform, his work reflects not only a commitment to craft, but a belief in pastry as a form of expression, connection, and personal healing.