It’s a new year for Portage Park’s French-inspired Community Tavern in Chicago, welcoming notable patisserie expert Elissa Narow to the dedicated, skillful culinary team as executive pastry chef. Joining Community Tavern as its first pastry chef, Narow elevates the dessert program with her combined talent and passion for pastry, offering a selection of playful sweet bites.
Immersing herself in cooking at a young age, regularly baking with her grandmother during the holidays, Narow could never keep away from the kitchen. She pursued a pastry path, beginning her post-graduate career as assistant pastry chef at the acclaimed four-star Trio (Evanston) working under friend and mentor pastry chef Della Gossett. Continuing her culinary ventures, Narow went on to Avec (Chicago), Blackbird (Chicago), and Chef Paul Virant’s Vistro (Hinsdale), Vie (Western Springs), and Perennial Virant (Chicago) before reuniting with longtime friend executive chef/owner Joey Beato at Community Tavern, with whom she worked with at Spring (Chicago).
Welcoming diners with a revamped pastry program brimming with expertly crafted confections, Narow blends the freshest, locally sourced ingredients harmoniously throughout the new dessert menu at Community Tavern. This winter’s sweets include:
Desserts: Caramel Apple: Bourbon caramelized apples, Valrhona Caramélia mousse, Caramélia pecan crumble.
It’s a Date: Date pudding cake, brown sugar toffee, citrus cream, Cara Cara, blood orange.
Chocofreeze: Valrhona Araguani dark chocolate frozen mousse, rum raisins, cocoa nib tuile.
Sweet Treats: Kitchen Sink Cookies: Chocolate chunks, dried cherries, honeyed oats.
English Toffee: Milk chocolate, toasted coconut.
Entrenched in the culinary community, Narow is a recipient of prized culinary accolades including Jean Banchet Celebrity Pastry Chef, Chicago (2007) and StarChefs Rising Star Pastry Chef, Chicago (2008), and has held positions including Guest Chef Instructor for Common Threads (2008) and Share Our Strength Taste of the Nation Restaurant Chair (2009-2015). Embarking on an exciting new pastry journey, Narow transcends Community Tavern with a dessert lineup welcoming Chicagoans to experience the delicious elements in store at this beloved community spot.
