Ptak, Claire: - A California native, Claire Ptak worked as a pastry chef for Alice Waters at Chez Panisse in Berkeley before moving to London in 2005. She staged in restaurants including Moro and St. John before starting Violet, her stall on Broadway Market in east London. Claire opened the Violet Bakery in 2010. Jamie Oliver said Claire is 'his favourite cake maker in the whole world'. Claire is also a food writer and stylist whose work includes Ottolenghi's weekly Guardian column, Observer Food Monthly, Jamie Magazine, Kinfolk, and Vogue. She has published three cookbooks, The Home-Made Sweet Shop, The Whoopie Pie Book and Leon: Baking & Puddings.