Masako Yatabe Thomsen

Born and raised in Tokyo, Masako completed a graduate degree in architecture before practicing in Tokyo and Los Angeles. During that time, she pursued a lifelong interest in baking by diligently searching out cookbooks at the local library and practicing techniques at home. By the time she approached Sumi Chang of Europane Bakery, she had become a confident baker, proficient in many cuisines and drawing inspiration from her Japanese heritage. The two discovered a common language as bakers, leading to a ten-year creative partnership that continues as co-instructors with their recently established cooking school, “At Our Table.”