Serving: Nashi Tarte Tatin
Step into the world of Buttermilk Boutique, L.L.C, where Chef Tie Whittaker’s passion for pastry is a lifelong journey that began in the heart of a kitchen with her beloved grandmother, Angel. From baking fresh pies, breads, and cobblers during her formative years, Tie’s familial hobby transformed into a business dream, leading her away from a prospective career in law and into the delectable realm of fine pastry.
My love of pastry can be traced back to a young age, baking fresh pies, breads, and cobblers with my grandmother, Angel. She dreamed of having her own pie business. Our bond grew from her teaching me about baking to us planning to start Angel Pies together. She was known for her buttermilk, pecan, and chess pies, but had quite the pie arsenal in her recipe books.
In February of 2010 I began helping her transform her recipes. Outlining scant cups of flour and pinches of salt into grams so that they could be scaled easily. We baked nonstop for an entire month . It was amazing. Little did I know, that would be the last few moments we would spend together. From diagnosis to death was 2 weeks. My grandmother’s cancer was relentless…aggressive.
After losing her in March 2010, I decided to dedicate my career to her, our shared love of baking, and our dream of a pastry business. In 2015 after graduating with my Master’s in Gastronomy, Buttermilk Boutique was born. An ode to my grandmother, her buttermilk pie, and her love of community. Buttermilk Boutique is a unique pastry company that specializes in luxurious desserts that evoke nostalgia. My goal is to showcase southern flavors while highlighting my African-American roots and traditions.
Motivated by a desire to honor her grandmother’s memory, Tie dedicated herself to her enduring love for all things pastry. In a bold move, she traded her legal pursuits for an apron, pastry bag, and a one-way ticket to Boston, where she embarked on the pursuit of culinary excellence, earning a Master of Liberal Arts in Gastronomy from Boston University.
After two fruitful years in Massachusetts, managing prestigious bakeries in Boston and working with the city’s top cake designer at Cakes To Remember, Tie felt the call to return to her Southern roots. In 2015, Buttermilk Boutique, LLC came to life in Clayton, NC, as a boutique pastry company specializing in nostalgic, luxury hand-crafted pastries, cakes, and plated desserts. These creations, marked by breathtaking presentation and design, showcase the essence of southern flavors, adorned with locally sourced ingredients from North Carolina farmers and purveyors.
Whittaker’s culinary talents have not gone unnoticed. Her sweet creations have been featured in notable publications such as VoyageRaleigh, NC Agriculture Stove Side Chats, Bustld Weddings, and Our State Magazine. She has demonstrated her skills on various platforms, competing on Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games and winning accolades such as NCRLA’s Chef Showdown 2021 Pastry Chef of the Year and the 2019 People’s Choice Best Pastry Chef.
Beyond her accomplishments, Tie remains actively involved in the culinary community. She continues to contribute to professional kitchens throughout the Triangle and shares her expertise by teaching baking and pastry arts classes. To savor Tie’s exceptional desserts, visit Plates Neighborhood Kitchen in downtown Raleigh, NC, where the magic of Buttermilk Boutique comes to life on each plate.