Michelle Polzine

Michelle Polzine is an American pastry chef, author, and former owner of the 20th Century Café in San Francisco, California.

Biography Polzine was born in November, 1969 and was raised in Southern California. Starting at age 19 she worked as a political activist, first in Portland, Oregon on behalf of an environmental organization, then later for a women's clinic based in San Francisco. She authored the cookbook Baking at the 20th Century Cafe: Iconic European Desserts from Linzer Torte to Honey Cake, which was published in 2020. Citing both her recovery from this procedure and the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food industry, Polzine permanently closed the 20th Century Café in 2020.