The Shift Show is L.O.R.’s chat show that airs throughout the week on Instagram LIVE! Each episode we kick off with a team briefing and an aperitivo before our guest joins us ‘on shift’ to teach us something, help us cook something or just have a good old chat.

Abby Swain is one of our very dear friends from my (Natalia) time in NYC, and I am so excited she has agreed to come on The Shift Show!

Abby graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Baking and Pastry Arts at the Culinary Institute of America before moving to Paris to further her education at Le Cordon Bleu where she received a diploma in Patisserie. After graduating, she staged at Sucre Cacao where she acquired the grit and dedication required to succeed within this industry.

Upon returning to the United States, Abby worked under the tutelage of Karen DeMasco at Craft New York and learned how to integrate local and seasonal ingredients into Craft’s dessert menu. She later relocated to Atlanta in 2008, where she was presented with a unique opportunity to help open Bakeshop as a sous chef for Jonathan St Hilaire. Here, she had the chance to focus on the complexities of bread production. Soon after, Abby stepped into her role as pastry chef for Scott Serpas of Serpas True Food in Atlanta. Then, in 2011, excited for new challenges, Abby returned to New York City and took on the position as pastry chef of CraftBar, and a year later was promoted to pastry chef of both Craft and CraftBar.

Today, Abby Swain is the Executive Pastry Chef of Tom Colicchio’s Temple Court, a fine-dining American restaurant within The Beekman, an iconic and landmarked hotel in lower Manhattan. Here, Abby is applying all the knowledge acquired from her experiences to create innovative desserts influenced by classic New York cuisine from the 19th and 20th centuries for Temple Court, The Bar Room, private events and in-room dining. 

Watch this space for what we’ll be making on the show!