Born and raised in the Bronx, Pastry Chef Shaun Velez has built a career defined by precision, artistry, and innovation. A graduate of the French Culinary Institute, now the International Culinary Center, he refined his craft under James Beard Award-winning Pastry Chef Ghaya Oliveira at Boulud Sud and Restaurant DANIEL, mastering classical French pastry while developing his own signature style.

After a tenure in Boston, Velez returned to the Daniel Boulud family in 2018 as Executive Pastry Chef at Café Boulud, and in 2020, Chef Boulud personally appointed him to lead the pastry program at Restaurant DANIEL. There, he continues to elevate French pastry with modern aesthetics and impeccable technique.

In 2024, Velez was honored as La Liste’s Pastry Chef of the Year, a distinction that coincided with Restaurant DANIEL’s 30th anniversary, further solidifying his impact on one of the world’s most celebrated fine dining institutions.