Holiday Treats & Tenacity With Hawksmoor Pastry Chef Carla Henriques

Today’s guest is Carla Henriques, the international group executive pastry chef for the Hawksmoor restaurant group. Nicknamed the “Queen of Puddings” by her colleagues, Carla has helped shape Hawksmoor’s popular dessert menu, from its legendary sticky toffee pudding to seasonal British classics and inventive ice creams. Carla joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about growing up in Lisbon, how her mom’s job in a bakery influenced her own career, and how she took the bold step of moving to London to pursue a job in the culinary world. They also dive into British puddings, Portuguese pastries, sustainability, leadership, and why desserts deserve as much care and creativity as any savory course. Also, this is Carla’s very first podcast! (You crushed it, Carla.) Click here for Hawksmoor’s Sticky Toffee Pudding recipe. Order The Cake Issue Subscribe to our Substack Jubilee NYC 2026 tickets here Check out Cherry Bombe on ShopMy More on Carla: Instagram, Hawksmoor More on Kerry: Instagram