Regina pastry chef returns from catering competition in Philippines

WATCH: A Saskatchewan pastry chef has recently returned from the Philippines after competing in a catering business contest. Sierra D'Souza Butts has the story.

A Saskatchewan pastry chef has recently returned from the Philippines after competing in a catering business contest.

Growing up with a passion for culinary art, Emma Compton of Regina said she always wanted to become a chef.

“I’ve loved baking my entire life. I took a lot of classes at Miller High School, and I was really inspired there,” she sh

ared.

Early in her career, the culinary artist and owner of Emma’s Cakes & Patisserie recently took her skills for tasty treats abroad, participating in the SMX Culinary 2025 in Manila, Philippines.

Competing against the country’s top caterers, Compton served as the head pastry chef for her friend’s catering business, Richgold Weddings, where she took part in plating more than 1,000 desserts of panna cotta and macaron with Philippine flavours.

”It was completely different cooking in a different climate,” she shared.

“That kind of humidity was something I wasn’t used to, but it was really exciting. In that extent, there was such a great team at their catering business. It was a new experience because I’m like a solo person here,” she added.

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Going to Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa Culinary Arts Institute, she added her treats carry a bit of French flair.

“I try to keep the nice, basic, rustic things everyone loves here, but then mix it with a little bit more luxury flavors and all that stuff. My macarons, I try to make them really different flavors, ones you don’t see everywhere,” she explained.

‘A dream come true’

The 24-year-old credits the success of her business to the Regina Farmers’ Market, stating she would not be able to continue without the market being open every week.

“That’s why I was able to do this full time. The farmers’ market is the sole reason I was able to pursue this and really make this what it is,” Compton expressed.

“This kitchen I got to create because of the farmers’ market. It’s a dream come true to be able to go there every week and have a place.”

Being able to share her culinary skills internationally, Compton said she is excited to see where her career takes her next.

“Hopefully, I can continue doing really well at the farmers’ market, do some more markets around Saskatchewan and get to know other pastry chefs, other culinary chefs, and hopefully maybe look into Skills Canada, all that type of stuff,” she said.

“I’d like to keep on developing what I do.”