Rising Star Pastry Chef Ernie Quinones of The University of Massachusetts Club - Biography

A Los Angeles Native, Ernie Quinones started out in California and eventually ended up in Massachusetts. Ernie received an associate degree in Baking and Pastry Arts at the Culinary Institute of America. Then, after a whirlwind externship at the exclusive Newport Country Club, he continued on to Chocolate Central-The Hotel Hershey in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

For the next two years, he headed the resort's pastry operations, before making a major move to the Four Seasons Hotel in Dallas and then the Four Seasons Houston. As Executive Pastry Chef at the AAA rated 5-Diamond property, Quinones managed a staff of five and created delicacies for breakfast, lunch, dinner, room service and banquets of all sizes.

Quinones was then recruited to help open Mantra in Boston in 2000. As Executive Pastry Chef, he has won rave reviews for his unique sweet and savory flavor combinations - he won an award at Boston's annual Masters of Pastry competition before the restaurant had even opened. In 2003 he was named StarChefs.com Boston Rising Star Pastry Chef and in 2005 he joined the staff of The University of Massachusetts Club.