Peter Scarola is the Pastry Chef of R2L, the acclaimed modern American restaurant on the 37th floor of Two Liberty Place in Center City Philadelphia. Scarola’s approach to pastry and dessert is using fresh, seasonal ingredients where flavor, function and an element of surprise take precedence over fashion and flair. A Philadelphia-area native, Scarola has been employed with Daniel Stern Restaurants since 2008, when he led the pastry department at RAE. Scarola developed and oversaw the pastry departments in the openings of both MidAtlantic Tap Room in University City in 2009 and R2L in 2010. He leads his staff at R2L in the creation of pastries and artistic plated desserts for the restaurant and for off-site events.

In the Winter of 2013, Scarola was recognized as a Rising Star Pastry Chef of Philadelphia through StarChefs. He then went on to compete in the 4th Annual Pastry Competition at the International Chefs Congress in New York City. Scarola recently participated in a fundraiser coordinated by Philly Give & Get, a charity auction that combines professional networking with community engagement. The event raised funds that assisted in allowing 120 young Philadelphians to learn digital media at Scribe Video Center. Scarola frequently holds classes at COOK, a kitchen-classroom that offers demonstrations by Philadelphia’s most established and aspiring chefs.

Before returning to Philadelphia to join Chef Daniel Stern’s hospitality group, Scarola assisted in the resurrection of the Inn at St. Peter’s Village and headed the development of St. Peter’s Bakery in historic Chester County. During his tenure at The Inn, Scarola was awarded Philadelphia magazine’s Best of Philly award for “Best Dessert” in 2007.

Scarola’s previous appointment as Pastry Chef at Lacroix at The Rittenhouse in Philadelphia marked his return to the East Coast after several years in Chicago, where he was in charge of the Pastry Department at Everest Restaurant. During his term at Everest, the restaurant was ranked #1 in Chicago by Chicago magazine. Scarola’s hotel background includes stints for Rosewood Hotels in the Caribbean as well as Orient Express Hotels in Charlottesville, Va. Prior to attending Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I., Scarola’s baking career started as a baker’s assistant at The Hearth Baker in Lansdale, Pa.