Food & Drink

Pâtissier and chocolatier Sebastian Kobelt shares some of the secrets to delicious desserts

Perfect pastries from Sebastian Kobelt, plus the best Slovenian whites

I’m a pâtissier and chocolatier based in Linlithgow. I specialise in making small batches of artisan chocolates, as well as cakes and desserts, which I sell through my shop on the High Street. I also consult for some of Scotland’s best hotels and restaurants.

I was inspired to become a pastry chef when I was a young child growing up in Germany. My family come from the outskirts of Berlin and my grandfather used to run a very busy bakery in the city’s Eastern part. It was like magic to me – the noise, the smells. This motivated me to follow in his footsteps.

Through dedication and commitment, I have achieved a lot. Having headed up pastry sections of Edinburgh restaurants The Kitchin and Castle Terrace for a number of years, I set up production, supplying on a wholesale basis to hotels. I was also the first chef in Scotland to serve up a pop-up tasting menu entirely dedicated to desserts where I pushed the boundaries of what’s “allowed”. I attained the highest educational accolade for artisanal professions in Germany – the konditormeister. I also triumphed at the German Chocolate Masters, was a finalist in the World Chocolate Masters, and was awarded Pâtisserie of the Year at the Scottish Food Awards 2017.

My focus is seasonality– sourcing locally wherever possible – and uniqueness so when you taste one of my creations, you are guaranteed quality and consistency.

I like to think I’ve made my grandfather proud.