Author Biography

Iginio Massari was born in Brescia in1942. His mother worked as a cook and his father as manager of a cafeteria, and at 16 Iginio left for Switzerland to study the art of pastry and chocolate making. After four years he returned to Italy to perfect his knowledge in baking, and
started working as pastry chef and technical manager in both the artisanal and industrial sectors of the food industry. In 1971 he opened
Pasticceria Veneta in his hometown. Since 1964 his work has earned him over 300 prizes, awards and acknowledgements. In 1996 he became
the creator and partner of a school specializing in food preparation in Brescia. Every year since 2011 his patisserie has earned first place as the
best in Italy in the guide Gambero Rosso. In 2013 he was awarded the decoration of Commendatore, Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, and
in 2015 in Venice he was awarded the Leone d’Oro prize for his lifetime career. In both the 1997 and 2015 editions of the Coupe du Monde de
la Pâtisserie, he won the Gold Medal as coach of the best team, and in 2014 he was awarded First Prize at the World Chocolate Masters
competition in Paris. Today his unique talent and unflinching discipline are recognized the world over, as well as his status as both a
worshipped and feared icon. Dedication, a vast culture and personal honesty are some of his most appreciated traits. He is also the author of
several books for both professional and amateur chefs, and is a frequent guest of successful Italian television shows. In The Sweetman, Italian amateur pastry chefs can put themselves to the test, showing their mettle to the king of patisserie, and perhaps be discovered as the talents of
tomorrow.