Situated in the picturesque Wicker Park neighborhood in Chicago, Alliance Bakery features fine European pastries and desserts, custom-designed cakes to suit any occasion, and a full espresso bar. Come visit us and enjoy our free wifi room and outdoor café.
Chef Peter Rios, Owner and Executive Pastry Chef
Chef Peter Rios operates the Alliance Bakery & Café. Chef Rios has served as executive pastry chef at the Fairmont Hotel Chicago leading a team of ten in the pastry department. He created Asian and global inspired desserts at Aria, the hotel’s award-winning restaurant. The Aria Sushi Bar, Lobby Lounge and the Club Lounge were other outlets at the Fairmont which offered international desserts.
Prior to Fairmont Hotel, Chef Rios served as executive pastry chef at Sofitel Hotel Chicago for almost four years. He enjoyed the challenge of preparing modern French pastries for the flagship hotel of this French hotel company.
As executive pastry chef for the Art Institute of Chicago for six years, Chef Rios created many themed buffets and displayed his talents in matching modern and traditional pastry to art exhibits and shows for this famous museum.
Chef Rios has trained extensively in Europe and has participated in demonstrations in Paris, Lyon and Nice, France and most recently in Chocolate and Pastry seminars in Istanbul, Turkey. Chef Rios is a graduate of Kendall College. He has participated is multiple advanced courses at the French Pastry School Chicago since 1994 were he continues to learn and evolve in the art of Pastry.
Alliance Bakery Awards & Accolades
CARBA Regional Cake Decorating Competition 2012: 1st Place Overall Grand Prize, 1st Place Wedding Cake Category, 2nd Place 2D/3D Cake, 3rd Place 10″ Fondant Cake Category
Pillsbury National Cake Decorating Competition 2011: 3rd Place overall, 1st Place 2D/3D Cake Category, 1st Place Fondant Cakes, 2nd Place Wedding Cake Category
CARBA Regional Cake Decoration Competition 2011: 1st Place Overall Grand Prize, 1st Place Wedding Cake Category, 1st Place, 2D/3D Cake, 3rd Place 10″ Fondant Cake Category
Food Network: Sugar Showpiece Construction and Cake Truffles
TLC Amazing Cakes: 4′ Chicago Themed Cake for WGN and Chicago Tribune
Cooking Channel: Devils Food Chocolate Cake Class
Food Network: Chocolate Challenge- Love Theme 4′ Sculpture
Grand Prix of Chocolate, Paris France: Chocolate Sculpture and Chocolate Candies, Finalist
Patisfrance U.S Pastry Competition: Gold Medal, 1st Place Overall
Patisfrance U.S Pastry Competition: Best Taste Award – Entremets
Albert Uster Plated Dessert Competition: 1st Place
U.S.A. Pastry Team: Chocolate Showpiece, Candies and Entreme
