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| John Hamstra; Murphy’s Delightful Desserts by Donna Page When most people think of Murphy’s, they usually conjure up thoughts of brunch, lunch or dinner. But don’t leave this trendy restaurant without satisfying your sweet tooth because you will not only miss out on delectable treats, you will break pastry chef John Hamstra’s heart. Hamstra, who was born in Holland, has been a full-time baker for almost 12 years. He has always had an interest in crafting desserts and pastries, and decided to attend culinary school in his homeland. He soon joined the pastry team at Hotel Blakes, a small luxury hotel in Amsterdam that is known for its Asian influences. He then decided to come to the States. He was beginning to make a name for himself at the J.W. Marriott and the Marriott Marquis here in Atlanta, but his student visa was about to expire, so he had to leave the country. “I met a woman, a ‘Georgia Peach,’ and she moved back to Holland with me,” he says. “We got married in Holland and lived there for two years. We also spent time traveling around Europe but decided to leave because there were more opportunities over here. I thought Georgia would be a good place because my wife has family here.” Hamstra learned many great culinary skills while in Holland and has learned much in Atlanta as well. “I’ve picked up different things from each place I worked,” he says “There’s always something new to learn from each environment.” Though a long way from his native land, Hamstra enjoys working and living in Atlanta. “There are so many dining choices over here. There’s the fine dining and the casual dining, but there are so many levels in between. It wasn’t like that in Holland,” he explains. “I also like how the Atlanta market is constantly growing.” He does not have a philosophy about cooking because he says he is still learning things. “I feel like I’m still a student,” he says. Hamstra invented ingenious desserts at Hotel Blakes, creating treats for everyone from Tommy Hilfiger and the jewelry company Cartier. He also learned how to produce desserts that satisfied the American palate while at the J. W. Marriott and the Marriott Marquis. His hotel experiences made him a pro at creating pastries for large crowds as well as for small crowds like those found at Murphy’s. Although Hamstra has been the pastry chef at Murphy’s for less than a year, he is definitely making a sweet impression. In fact, the restaurant has provided him with his own bakery, one full-time assistant and two part-timers. The food at Murphy’s is often described as “American comfort food,” which is a description that fits their pastry and dessert offerings as well. Some of the highlights include the pecan-glazed pumpkin pie with ginger crème anglaise and candied oranges, the chocolate truffle layer cake with ganache icing and raspberry sauce, and the key lime tart with a graham cracker crust. The restaurant also offers an assortment of cakes, cookies and brownies. The chocolate truffles are Hamstra’s favorite; chocolate is his preferred medium to work and play with. “I’m pretty creative, and I love to work with my hands,” he says. “I enjoy making all kinds of pastries, but truffles are my specialty item.” Hamstra and his team work hard to come up with new specials each day. When one of his specials turns into a popular seller, it becomes a semi-permanent item on the menu. He also enjoys designing desserts for contests and special events around town. He has won quite a few contests, and was commissioned to create a dessert for the Lion King premier party in February. Hamstra would like to be a part of Atlanta’s growing market ten years from now. “I’d like to have my own business. It would be a little coffee/tea house where people could get my pastries,” he says. There’d be a place for people to sit down, and there would be over-the-counter service too. And, of course we’d specialize in chocolates.” But for the time being, you can sample some of his creations at Murphy’s. Hamstra says he experiences the biggest joy when people give him a face-to-face compliment. “I made a red velvet cake for a woman and her family, and she came back to the restaurant to let me know how much her family enjoyed it. It really made my day!” Murphy’s is located at 997 Virginia Avenue. Hamstra can be reached at (404) 872-5611. |
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| Pastry chef John Hamstra | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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