Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley Celebrates Women’s History Month with Pastry Chef Showcase From Across North America

In honour of Women’s History Month, Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley is celebrating four exceptional female pastry chefs from sister properties across North America. Throughout the month of March 2025, each chef from Four Seasons hotels in Denver, Napa Valley, Austin, and Silicon Valley, will present a signature dessert, complemented by a specially crafted beverage pairing created by Dacia Martinez, the talented assistant bar manager at Quattro. These exclusive offerings will be featured at Quattro restaurant for the entire month, giving guests the opportunity to celebrate the artistry of women in both the culinary and beverage worlds.

Each dessert will be paired with a carefully crafted cocktail by Dacia Martinez, who leads the beverage program at Quattro. Dacia’s creations showcase her mixology expertise, with each cocktail thoughtfully designed to elevate the dessert and create a perfect balance between sweet, savoury, fresh, and refined. Through this collaboration, Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley highlights the impact of female leadership in the kitchen and behind the bar.

Featured Pastry Chefs, Their Signature Creations, and Dacia's Pairings

Four Seasons Hotel Denver – Pastry Chef Molly Coen

• Dessert: Gluten-Free Pistachio Cake
• Beverage Pairing: Cleora

Molly Coen, a graduate of Johnson and Wales University, brings her passion for pastry to Four Seasons Hotel Denver. After working at the James Beard-nominated Fig Tree Restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina, Molly returned to Four Seasons Denver, where she quickly advanced to Pastry Chef. For Women’s History Month, she presents a Gluten-Free Pistachio Cake that combines rich and vibrant flavours with an elegant, light texture. The cake is both rich and acidic, offering a perfect balance of indulgence and freshness.

To complement Molly's creation, Dacia Martinez has crafted the Cleora cocktail. This drink, inspired by the Hotel's Banquet Director Jennifer’s grandmother, Cleora, combines vodka, Frangelico, pistachio simple syrup, and cream to create a comforting, nutty, and rich cocktail. The Cleora pairing evokes a sense of nostalgia, elegantly complementing the bright, flavorful cake.

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley – Executive Pastry Chef Celine Plano

• Dessert: Lemon Meringue Tart
• Beverage Pairing: Lemon Meringue Sour

Celine Plano, a graduate of prestigious pastry programs in France, brings decades of experience in luxury hotels and chocolate artistry. She has held key roles at The Peninsula Chicago, leading a team of 16 pastry chefs, and at Barry Callebaut, the world’s largest chocolate manufacturer, as a technical advisor and chocolatier. For Women’s History Month, Celine presents a Lemon Meringue Tart, featuring a perfectly balanced lemon curd, crisp lemon crunch, and delicate Italian meringue - a true masterpiece of precision and beauty.

To complement this exquisite tart, Dacia Martinez has crafted a Lemon Meringue Sour cocktail. This refreshing drink, made with vodka, fresh lemon juice, basil simple syrup, and egg white, offers a tangy kick that enhances the tart’s sweet and zesty layers. The basil adds a unique herbal twist, beautifully balancing the fresh flavors of the dessert.

Four Seasons Hotel Austin – Executive Pastry Chef Amanda Pallagi

• Dessert: Flourless Tahini Brownie
• Beverage Pairing: Citrus-Sesame Daiquiri

Growing up cooking alongside her grandma in rural Texas, Amanda Pallagi’s natural craftiness and prowess in the kitchen eventually blossomed into a full-fledged business in high school. Despite her early success and subsequent restaurant roles, Amanda didn’t seriously consider culinary school until 2008, when she joined Four Seasons Hotel Austin as a hostess. Drawn to the pastry shop, she was mentored by the executive pastry chef, who encouraged her to pursue professional training. Over the next five years, Amanda took on increasing responsibilities, eventually earning her promotion to Executive Pastry Chef in late 2015.

For Women’s History Month, Amanda presents a Flourless Tahini Brownie, which blends dark chocolate crèmeux, sesame halva, and yuzu gelee for a bold and indulgent dessert. The brownie’s rich, fudgy texture is complemented by the tangy yuzu gelee, adding layers of depth and flavour.

To perfectly accompany this dessert, Dacia Martinez has created the Citrus-Sesame Daiquiri. Made with rum, sesame syrup, yuzu juice, lime juice, and yuzu liqueur, the cocktail delivers a citrusy punch that balances the richness of the brownie. The sesame syrup adds a grounded flavour, harmonizing with the tahini’s savoury depth, creating a truly unique pairing.

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley – Pastry Sous Chef Courtney Persichitte

• Dessert: Irish Cream Tiramisu Choux
• Beverage Pairing: Irish Cream Espresso Martini

Courtney Persichitte, who joined Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley from Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, brings nearly nine years of experience to her role as Pastry Sous Chef. Her career has spanned a range of pastry disciplines, from crafting chocolates for room service amenities to designing plated desserts for Quattro Restaurant. Courtney has also excelled in large party banquet production, serving up to five hundred guests. Her culinary journey includes an internship with Oriol Balaguer in Barcelona, Spain, and training at The French Pastry School in Chicago.

Courtney’s Irish Cream Tiramisu Choux incorporates elements of her Irish and Italian heritage, with a nod to her French pastry training. The choux pastry is filled with Irish cream mascarpone mousse, coffee milk chocolate crèmeux, and Guinness ice cream, creating a rich and indulgent dessert.

To complement this dessert, Dacia Martinez has created the Irish Cream Espresso Martini. This velvety cocktail, made with whiskey, Irish cream liqueur, espresso, chocolate liqueur, and raspberry liqueur, mirrors the creamy texture of the tiramisu choux while the raspberry provides a refreshing contrast, balancing the richness of the dessert.

Exclusive Pastry Offerings Throughout March

Throughout March, guests can indulge in these exceptional desserts paired with their corresponding cocktails at Quattro. Each dessert will be available daily, allowing guests to experience the creativity and passion behind these women-led culinary experiences.

In addition to the desserts and pairings, small bite-sized versions of each featured pastry will be available as part of the hotel’s Afternoon Tea service every Saturday and Sunday throughout March, offering a more intimate and elegant tasting experience.

A Celebration of Women in the Culinary World

Adora Manalo, General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley, shares her thoughts on the celebration: “At Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley, the team is proud to celebrate Women’s History Month by showcasing the incredible talent of female chefs and mixologists. By highlighting the inspiring work of women in the kitchen and behind the bar, the hotel creates a space for their leadership and creativity to shine. This celebration reflects the commitment to empowering women and recognizing their significant contributions to the culinary world.”

For more information or to make a reservation at Quattro or Afternoon Tea, visit the website.