Vegas Pastry Chef to Drop DIY Dessert Concept in Little Italy

Last year, the rumormill was churning with reports that Jean-Philippe Maury, the master pastry chef with two eponymous pastry shops in Las Vegas, would be expanding into San Diego.

Though we first heard that the French-trained pâtissier would be taking a space in the Broadstone building on Kettner, we've since learned that the chef has swapped that location for a spot on Little Italy's main thoroughfare at 1068 India Street.

Creative House's Douglas Hamm, whose investment and development company based in downtown San Diego owns the property, signed the long term lease with Maury; Hamm says that they were selective in "choosing the right tenant that would not only fit in with the community but also help to further the positive growth of the neighborhood."

Maury moved his family to San Diego four years ago, and tells Eater that Little Italy (our dining neighborhood of the year) was his first choice to launch the flagship of his all-new dessert concept.

Construction will soon start on the 1,200-square-foot home of iDessert by Jean-Philippe; Maury says that this concept will be more accessible and casual that his Jean-Phillipe Pastisserie locations in Vegas' ARIA and Bellagio hotels, but with the same attention to quality.

iDessert will be a do-it-yourself sweet shop where eaters can custom-create desserts based on housemade sugar crisps, creams, gelato, cakes and sauces. They will also offer build-your-own sundaes, plus shakes and coffee drinks, and plan to retail the chef's signature products, from nougat to chocolate-coated fruit, candy and more. An opening is estimated for late April/early May.