One of the Chicago's best pastry chefs has left the Peninsula Hotel to open her own pastry shop, hopefully by the fall.

Hsing Chen, whose resumé is decorated with the crème de la crème of the country's fine-dining restaurants (The French Laundry, Masa, Manresa, Jean-Georges Vongerichten's company), says her shop will hold a few cafe tables and sell pastries and specialty cakes, but not breads.

"There are people that want individual pastries like tarts and cakes and éclairs," Chen says. "I would have some cupcakes and cookies. There will be a pastry case with all indie pastries — bright colors and unique flavors." While she won't reveal the address until the lease is signed, and the name hasn't been determined, Chen is excited about the new direction. "I have been waiting my entire career to do this," Chen says.

— www.chicagomag.com