How Pastry Chef Amanda Rockman Is Baking Her Own Path in Austin
After decades in the restaurant industry, Amanda Rockman opened her own Austin bakeshop that blends creativity with classic techniques
This fall, Amanda Rockman opened Rockman Coffee + Bakeshop in East Austin, where we can enjoy our favorite vices — caffeine, sugar, butter, gluten and booze are its self-proclaimed specialties — all with a rare flair and quality. Rockman’s journey to opening her own bakery reflects her deep-rooted passion for the culinary arts, love for meticulous craftsmanship, and desire to preserve the art of pastry in an ever-changing world.
Growing up in Katy, Texas, Rockman was known for her social and creative nature. Despite her artistic flair, one of Rockman’s defining traits was her methodical approach to life. She was meticulous in everything she did, from how her room was kept to how she pursued her hobbies. This quality would later become the cornerstone of her career in pastry making.
“I was always very particular about how things were done,” recalls Rockman, “and that translated well into becoming a pastry chef.”
Rockman’s love for baking began at home, influenced by her mother’s passion for scratch-made baked goods. Her mom pored over Bon Appétit magazines, selecting recipes to try, particularly during the holidays. Rockman’s early exposure to this world of home baking, combined with her interest in chemistry and math during high school, helped her realize that baking was a beautiful blend of science, art and creativity.
While Rockman was always interested in baking, it was not her first career choice. She initially attended Emerson College in Boston, where she studied film. However, she found herself spending more time in restaurant kitchens than in classrooms, staging in local establishments to gain hands-on experience. During this time, Rockman had a career-changing epiphany — baking wasn’t just a hobby. It could be her profession.
Rockman took a bold step away from her studies at Emerson, applying to both the Culinary Institute of America and NYU’s School of Art. While waiting to hear back from the schools, she moved to Austin, where she worked at Mozart’s Coffee Roasters as a barista during the day and a baker at night. When she was accepted into both programs, she chose the CIA in Hyde Park, New York, and began her studies there in 2002.
After working in acclaimed restaurants across the country, Rockman returned to Austin in 2015 as the executive pastry chef for South Congress Hotel. Over the next several years, she progressed from executive pastry chef to operations roles, further honing her skills in the kitchen and on the business side of the hospitality industry.
During this time, Amanda observed the toll that the pandemic and subsequent recession took on the profession, with pastry chefs often being the first in the hospitality industry to lose their jobs in tough times. This led her to reflect on the future of her craft.
“Being a pastry chef or a baker is an old classic profession, and I think it’s dying,” shares Rockman. “I want to preserve it.”
It was this desire to protect and elevate the art of pastry that led Amanda Rockman to open Rockman Coffee + Bakeshop. The bakeshop not only showcases her culinary talents, but also serves as a platform for creative expression, something Rockman felt had been stifled in the rigid world of fine dining.
Rockman Coffee + Bakeshop is a reflection of the chef’s vision, personality and freedom. The space itself is vibrant and full of character, with bright tiles, tie-dye floors and music that reflects Rockman’s eclectic tastes.
“I can be as loud as I want,” she says with a smile. “No one’s going to tell me, ‘No,’ because I own it, and that feels really good.”
The bakeshop offers a variety of croissants, bagels and other pastries, all made with the highest attention to detail. Rockman’s menu includes classic flavors and unique twists, such as Vanilla Glazed Croissants and Apple Almond Croissants infused with orange blossom water. Her bagels are made with painstaking care, from the dough’s long proofing process to the homemade schmears like French Onion Dip and Garlic Herb.
Rockman Coffee + Bakeshop is not just a bakery — it’s a space to gather, enjoy tea or experience a happy hour with cake and wine. Rockman has created a place where creativity, community and the art of pastry can flourish, and where pastry chefs can feel valued and continue to grow their craft.
Amanda Rockman is rightfully proud of what she’s built. After 20 years in the industry, she now has the freedom to be herself, to create a space that is uniquely hers and to share her passion for baking with the world.
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