India’s most respected and admired pastry chef Vinesh Johny, is not only known for his skills but also for his contribution as a teacher of pastry and baking. 

Vinesh is the executive pastry chef and co-founder of India’s first international specialized baking academy – Lavonne Academy of Baking Science & Pastry Arts founded in 2012 in Bengaluru. After graduating in hotel management from the Christ University in Bengaluru, he has worked with big names like The Oberoi and The Starwood. 

His love for chocolate and baking evolved while working at The Oberoi. He would work with 20 – 30 kilos of chocolate daily, which led him to become ‘The Chocolate Wiz’ he is today. He wanted to specialize in baking and realized there were no courses in India. This led him to start Lavonne and educate students in baking, pastry making, culinary arts and more within India. 

Vinesh is also appointed as mentor by the Government of India at the World Skills Competition in Abu Dhabi, 2017. He was then appointed as the Deputy Chief Expert for pastry and confectionery at WorldSkills International in Russia, 2019.