There’s a State Fair of Texas Ribbon-winning baker serving guests at Goldie’s.
Christopher Hughes has served as Goldie’s maître d since the restaurant opened in early 2024. He’s also won six placing ribbons over the course of the State Fair of Texas’s last two cooking competitions for his confectionery expertise and baking skills.
Hughes grew up in Iowa with a mother who worked at a bakeshop, so sweets were never hard to find around the house. Eventually, he followed in her footsteps
“I just kind of took to it,” Hughes says. “And I just enjoy manipulating sugar. It’s been fun back in the day when they used to have home ec in junior high.”
While he may have a long history of baking, this year marks just his third entry into the State Fair Creative Arts – Cooking Competition. He took home two ribbons in 2023 and four in 2024. His strawberry divinity earned a blue ribbon last year, in addition to a three-layer chocolate cake, which earned a white third-place ribbon in the chocolate competition.
This year, Hughes entered a salted caramel New York Cheesecake in the Cooking With Cheese Competition. He says he didn’t always specialize in cheesecakes, but has taken it up recently as he’s further honed his baking skills.
“The cheesecakes are really not my thing,” he says. “Yeah, I just wanted something different to try out. And I did it and just kind of took to it.I have a knack for balancing flavors.”
His cheesecake combines a homemade caramel sauce, a silky cheesecake base and a graham cracker crust to bring some brown sugar in the mix.
Apparently, judges found Hughes’ balance of sweet and salty enticing enough to award it a red second-place ribbon in the competition. While he’s won awards in the past, he says it’s still gratifying to get the recognition.
“It’s validation for me of all my hard work and perseverance, and I just love sugar. I just love being able to manipulate it, and all my hard work coming to fruition and just seeing a ribbon with what I want.”
Hughes even bakes in the Fair off-season. His baking Instagram account, hightowerboulangerie, posts regular updates on his sugary creations and can be found here.
At Goldie’s, even though he is decidedly front-of-the-house, he says his coworkers are no strangers to his talents in the kitchen. He even describes it’s managing partners, Brittni Clayton and Brandon Hays, as “guinea pigs.”
“So (Brittni) has always been a fan of my baking, and the owner, Brandon, every time he comes in, I’ll usually bake something from home and I’ll bring it for him to try when he comes in to have dinner. He’s a big fan as well. He’s a great supporter and he loves sugar.”
Hughes will also compete in a further series of competitions going forward in the Fair. Neighbors can follow his progress on his Instagram page.
“I like the state fair. I’m going to be doing it as long as I possibly can,” he says. “I kind of have my side hustle as well. Like, I sell cheesecakes on the side, and other desserts too.”
