Executive Pastry Chef Emily Thompson of Denver’s The Wolf’s Tailor Closes Out Season One of Chef’n It with a Garden-Inspired Pavlova
Chef’n It, the cooking series from Denver-based media agency Behind the Apron Media, closes out its debut season with a standout finale featuring Executive Pastry Chef Emily Thompson of The Wolf’s Tailor — Michelin Green Star and Colorado’s only two-starred restaurant.
Emily Thompson, Executive Pastry Chef of the two-star Michelin and Green Star restaurant The Wolf’s Tailor, shows host Tarah Runco tips on how to decorate her garden-inspired Pavlova.
The ninth and final episode of Season One spotlights Thompson’s imaginative, garden-driven approach to pastry through a stunning pavlova inspired by the vibrant ingredients surrounding her every day, from the flourishing garden at The Wolf’s Tailor to her own backyard at home.
Widely recognized as one of the country’s rising pastry talents, Thompson brings the artistry and precision of a Michelin-level kitchen into an approachable dessert rooted in seasonality, sustainability, and connection. The restaurant version layers Tuscan melon, ginger lemongrass caramel, green Sichuan peppercorn, and peach Thai basil sorbet into a dessert that captures the energy of Colorado’s growing season. For home cooks, she transforms the dish into a large-format pavlova designed for sharing at gatherings, featuring Colorado-grown melon from Masa Seed Foundation and Elephant Heart plum from First Fruits Organic Farm.
“It is a crowd pleaser, and more often than not, it’s going to make someone fall in love with you,” Thompson joked of her Garden Pavlova in Episode 9.
Executive Pastry Chef Emily Thompson shares the garden outside of The Wolf’s Tailor where they source some of the ingredients for the restaurant’s tasting menu.
A 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker, Thompson’s culinary perspective has been shaped by more than a decade in acclaimed kitchens, including three formative years at The French Laundry under Chef Thomas Keller. A graduate of Johnson & Wales University, she has become known for desserts that balance technical precision with storytelling, emotion, and a deep sense of place.
At The Wolf’s Tailor, Thompson leads with a philosophy centered on seasonality, collaboration, and sustainability. Drawing inspiration from heirloom grains, fermentation, and close partnerships with local growers, she creates what she calls “Colorado desserts” — dishes that reflect the landscape, climate, and agricultural richness of the region.
The Wolf’s Tailor remains one of the country’s most celebrated restaurants and Denver’s only Michelin two-star restaurant, earning national recognition for its innovative approach to grain, fire, fermentation, and sustainability. The restaurant’s Michelin Green Star further reflects its commitment to environmentally conscious dining and meaningful relationships with producers and the surrounding community.
The Season One finale marks a celebratory close to Chef’n It’s inaugural season, which has highlighted some of Colorado’s most influential culinary voices through intimate storytelling and original recipes.
View full episodes of Chef’n It on YouTube, explore chef bios, featured recipes, and episode content at ChefnIt.com, and follow along on Instagram for behind-the-scenes moments, bonus features, and additional culinary storytelling from the series.
Season Two is currently in production and slated for release in early 2027.
Media Inquiries:
Tarah Runco
(founder of Behind the Apron Media, executive producer/host of Chef’n It)
