Other
Sofia Tejeda
James Beard Award winner
- Discipline
- Other
i. Biography
The Path
Pastry in San Antonio has given Sofia Tejeda a framework for precision and restraint, with The Culinary Institute of America San Antonio in 2017 as the formal start point and early restaurant work sharpening the line of her practice. The James Beard Foundation nomination for Outstanding Pastry Chef in 2022 put that work in national view, but the foundation was already there: disciplined technique, a measured hand, and desserts built with control rather than excess. One small but telling detail sits inside the record of that momentum: “I had an interview the next day, and got the job.”
The Work Today
Pastry leadership runs through Sofia Tejeda’s current practice, and the shape of that work is visible in the progression from study to restaurant pastry to broader representation. In San Antonio, her career has developed around the demands of dessert programs that require consistency, timing, and a clear standard of finish. The result is a pastry voice that reads as exacting and composed, with each role adding another layer of responsibility to the same core discipline.
Signature
Sparkling Grapefruit Granita sits squarely in Sofia Tejeda’s pastry language: direct, bright, and built around clarity. The name points to a dessert that favors lift over weight, which aligns with a hand that works through precision rather than display. In that sense, the signature reads less like ornament and more like method.
Acclaim
Recognition for Sofia Tejeda arrived in 2022 through the James Beard Foundation nomination for Outstanding Pastry Chef and Pastry Chef of the Year. Those honors place her work within a wider professional field, reflecting the technical standard behind her pastry and the growing reach of her presence in San Antonio's culinary community.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Sofia
What is Sofia Tejeda's current role?
As of 2026, Sofia Tejeda is Pastry Chef of InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk.
Where did Sofia Tejeda work before?
Sofia Tejeda's earlier career included Mixtli.
What recognition has Sofia Tejeda received?
James Beard Foundation nomination for Outstanding Pastry Chef (2022).
