Lake House Canandaigua Pastry Chef John Bard Competes in National Favorite Chef 2026 Contest
John Bard, the executive pastry chef at the Lake House on Canandaigua, is participating in the Favorite Chef 2026 competition, hosted by Carla Hall of the Food Network. Bard is known for his innovative approach to desserts, such as his Dubai chocolate-inspired brownie with cherry gelée, which has become popular among voters. The competition, which began about a month ago, has seen Bard advance to third place in his group during the quarterfinal round, thanks to the support of his local community. The online voting for this round closes at 10 p.m. on July 23. If Bard wins, he will be featured in Taste of Home magazine, cook with Carla Hall on an episode of 'Chewed Up,' and receive a $25,000 prize.