Food + Drink
How Sweet It Is: Norlina Native Finalist in NCRLA Chef Competition
Hawkins’s satisfying creations are a fusion of Southern flavors and local ingredients with a modern twist.
Pastry chef Gerald Hawkins, Jr. is so close to winning the NCRLA Chef Showdown, he can taste it!
A native of Norlina, Hawkins has made a name for himself in the dessert world, particularly in the southern part of North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. Currently, he’s making tastebuds swoon at the Beach Shop and Grill in Topsail Beach, NC and The Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, NC.
At 31, his overall cooking experience in traditional and New American cuisine spans over a decade while his focus on pastries has been about eight years.
His take on desserts shows his love and admiration for local ingredients and is steeped in Southern tradition and African-American heritage while elevated with modern techniques and savory elements.
Some of his favorite ingredients to work with include pawpaws, muscadines, Ocracoke figs, Bogue Sound watermelons, and he does not shy away from experimenting with nontraditional flavors, like country ham or sunchokes and turning them into your new favorite dessert.
Gerald Hawkins, Jr. at work / Credit: Robert Fitz
“My Aunt Lib would create treat bags for everyone in the family including favorite candies, fruits, pecans from her tree, and more,” Hawkins reflects. “As we grew older, she would include more of the things you liked and less of those you didn’t like. I try to consider that tailored-for-you feeling in my dessert offerings. I truly just want to create what the community likes and enjoys with a little spin on it to encourage people to think outside the box.”
As a finalist in the NCRLA (North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Assocation) Chef Showdown, he is no stranger to this competition. This is his fifth time competing, and as always, Hawkins stands out among North Carolina’s most talented culinary professionals. This recognition is not only a testament to his skill and creativity but also a nod to the rich culinary heritage of the Carolinas that he so passionately represents.
With the competition underway, the community is rallying behind Hawkins, hoping to see him take home top honors. Regardless of the outcome, his work continues to elevate the art of pastry and be the cream of the crop.
One of Hawkins’s creations / Credit: Robert Fitz
The 2024 NCRLA Chef Showdown Grand Finale is Monday, August 26, 2024, 6-8:30 pm at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham NC. For more information, click here.
To enjoy the visuals of his creations, follow Gerald Hawkins Jr. on Instagram: @geraldhawkinsjr.