Nicholas Forte: From Las Vegas kitchens to the Pastry World Cup ice stage

# Quick summary

# Who Nicholas Forte is Forte trained at pastry school in Chicago and has worked at notable Las Vegas kitchens, including the Michelin-starred Joël Robuchon on the Strip. He now develops desserts across Tao Group's West Coast restaurants, where creating novel, highly visual desserts is part of daily work.

# The Americas selection win — what happened July 2026. The U.S. team used a clear division of labor: one chef handled the chocolate showpiece, another the sugar piece, and Forte took ice. Given a single block of ice and 90 minutes, Forte chose a 20-inch square block and carved a raptor head. To enlarge the final presentation beyond the block's original dimensions, the team removed the head and attached it on top and cut tail pieces, joining multiple ice elements with four separate fusions.

Forte described intensive practice beforehand at the supplier's facility that provides specialty ice to Tao's restaurants. He spent long sessions inside a freezer practicing carving techniques, which prepared him for the timed competition despite this being his first competitive ice-sculpting experience.

# What comes next: Lyon and logistical hurdles

# Why this matters to Forte and to Las Vegas pastry culture Forte frames the decision to compete as both a personal challenge and a way to represent his home city. He said he had long dreamed of wearing the American flag on his chef coat, which motivated him to sign up. He also highlighted his pride in representing Las Vegas, citing his long training and career there with local chefs and colleagues.

At Tao Group, dessert development centers on creativity and visual impact. Forte noted the company's emphasis on producing innovative, social-media-ready desserts, a practice that dovetails with competitive pastry work where presentation and technical skill are judged alongside taste.

# Practical takeaways for aspiring competitors

• Dividing tasks by discipline (chocolate, sugar, ice) lets teams maximize individual strengths.
• Intensive practice with a vendor or facility that supplies contest materials can substitute for formal competition experience.
• Expect to troubleshoot equipment compatibility and shipping logistics for international contests.

# Closing