Roland mesnier, white house executive pastry chef from 1979 2004, discusses his distinguished career and new book, creating the sweet. Surprisingly, mesniers life before he got to the white house was at least as interesting as the years he spent satisfying the dessert palates of the worlds. In this memoir, roland mesnier, pastry chef to five presidents, recalls the stunning desserts he created for white house state dinners, formal events, and family celebrations. This perfectly delicious collection of his favorite recipes is a wonderful resource for bringing into your home the talent of one of the best chefs in the world. The pastry chef to five presidents recalls his stunning white house creations and shares baking secrets and recipes adapted for home kitchens. White house chef lets bush eat cake publishers weekly. This is all the presidents pastries yes the title is terrible. Signed books by white house chefs walter scheib and roland. More than 300 spectacular recipes and essential lessons from white house pastry chef roland mesnier by roland mesnier and lauren chattman. Chef roland is busy speaking to groups around the country about his remarkable life and career as the longest serving chef at the white house. After spending 25 years in the white house, roland went on to author several books.
Reading master pastry chef roland mesnier s all the presidents pastries. A recipe book written by a white house pastry chef might seem a little daunting, but roland mesnier makes the job of baking so easy. Exwhite house chef roland mesnier spills secrets the. White house history shop 1610 h street nw dc 20006 u. In his twentyfive years as executive white house pastry chef, roland mesnier prided himself on creating a unique dessert for every special occasion, from elaborate state dinners and formal receptions to smaller family gatherings and birthday celebrations. Roland mesniers basic to beautiful cakes by mesnier, roland. Mesnier prepares a dessert that was served this past thursday at the dinner for british prime minister tony.
Roland mesnier was hired by first lady rosalynn carter in. He continues to educate expert and novice bakers about his craft with his books and he travels around the world teaching pastry techniques and sharing fond memories of life at the white house. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Twentyfive years in the white house dessert university. As a former white house volunteer from 19801988, i loved reading roland mesniers book, all the presidents pastries. Roland mesnier cookbooks, recipes and biography eat your books. It is much more than a book of recipes, but a journey of white house pastry chef s life that took him to the white house for 25 years and his relationships with 5 presidents and their families. Creating a sweet world of white house desserts youtube. Luke frazzagetty images i looked at the other chef and said. Roland mesnier was the white house pastry chef for nearly a quarter of a century. In roland mesniers basic to beautiful cakes, the author of the classic and comprehensive dessert university shows home cooks. About the book in this memoir, roland mesnier, pastry chef to five presidents, recalls the stunning desserts he created for white house state dinners, formal events, and family celebrations.
Rosalynn carter roland mesnier s desserts were some of the finest pleasures we enjoyed in the white house. This fall, the white house historical association will release, creating the sweet world of white house desserts. Roland mesnier creating the sweet world of white house. Hired in 1979 by first lady rosalyn carter, roland mesnier became the first ever nonamerican to serve in the white house and went on to become the longest tenured chef ever pastry or culinary in the.
Roland mesniers basic to beautiful cakes on apple books. White house executive pastry chef roland mesnier displays one of his magnificent creations. Twentyfive years in the white house, a memoir all the presidents pastries. Jan 06, 2012 mesnier with laura bush at the white house in 2003.
Roland mesniers new book white house deserts roland mesnier was the executive chef at the white house for over 25 years. Chef mesnier has won 18 gold medals, 4 silver and 3 bronze for his pastry creations in competitions around the world and was inducted into the chocolate hall of fame in ny in 2005. Roland mesnier is the former executive pastry chef of the white house. Former white house pastry chef entertains with stories of. Roland mesnier does a cooking demonstration at the 2007 texas book festival. Benwick, deputy editor of the food section at the washington post.
Sure enough, he does use all sorts of fancy moulds and cuts the cakes into extravagant shapes, but if you have no time for this, nothing is going to stop you from using an ordinary loaf tin instead. He grew up one of nine children in bonnay, france, and followed in the footsteps of his two baker brothers. In his twentyfive years as executive white house pastry chef, roland mesnier prided himself on creating a unique dessert for every special occasion, from elaborate. Mesnier makes professional desserts possible for cooks of all abilities. Roland mesniers basic to beautiful cakes by roland. Dessert university book by roland mesnier official. One of nine children, roland mesnier grew up in the tiny village of bonnay, france, population 140. White house chef is inscribed to the title page, louie and susan, from one great chef to two others, enjoy these stories, 101207. Cost free former white house pastry chef roland mesnier will be on hand in the white house history shop to sign his new book, creating the sweet world of white house desserts, and meeting visitors. From there, he worked in many different kitchens throughout europe and eventually found himself in bermuda, where he met his wife martha. Chef roland mesnier book signing the white house historical. Daniel visits white house pastry chef roland mesnier at the white house pastry kitchen. His new book, white house desserts, a pastry chefs secrets, chronicles his experiences with 5 presidents. More than 300 spectacular recipes and essential lessons from white house pastry chef roland mesnier take calories into consideration.
As a former white house volunteer from 19801988, i loved reading roland mesnier s book, all the presidents pastries. Chef roland mesnier 26 years of white house service to five. Mesnier was born into a family of nine children in the village of bonnay, france. Interview former white house pastry chef roland mesnier. His creations during his twenty five years as executive pastry chef 19792004 at the white house earned him the reputation of a creative genius mesnier was born into a family of nine children in the village of bonnay, france. Bush, said he was astonished at clintons big appetite, calling it scary. Chef mesnier also provides stepbystep instructions and templates for constructing and decorating a gingerbre. If his memoir is any indication, listeners in for a treat. He began his career in the kitchen at age 14 as an apprentice. Recorded books roland mesniers basic to beautiful cakes. More than 300 spectacular recipes and essential lessons from white house pastry chef roland mesnier, and roland mesniers basic to beautiful cakes, and more on. Surprisingly, mesnier s life before he got to the white house was at least as interesting as the years he. This new volume will, like the first, include commentar.
In roland mesnier s basic to beautiful cakes, the author of the classic and comprehensive dessert university shows home cooks. Roland mesnier at the white house with jimmy carters grandson. Creating the sweet world of white house desserts roland mesnier on. Roland mesnier books list of books by author roland mesnier.
Feb 11, 2009 mesnier is also available to give a talk called white house meringues and memoirs. Roland mesniers basic to beautiful cakes by mesnier. Former white house pastry chef roland mesnier will be on hand in the white house history shop to sign his new book, creating the sweet. Former white house pastry chef roland mesnier created president reagans chocolate mousse cake, which was served at the christian womens jobs corps of madison county circles luncheon on nov.
Roland mesnier took on the job of a lifetime as pastry chef to the white house. Rosalynn carter roland mesniers desserts were some of the finest pleasures we enjoyed in the white house. Former white house pastry chef roland mesnier served 5 us. Roland mesnier born july 8 1944 is a frenchamerican pastry chef and culinary writer. Those of us who came to know chef roland mesnier following his. During the half century that hes worked, hes rarely taken a day off. Chef roland mesnier 26 years of white house service to. In this memoir and cookbook, roland mesnier, executive pastry chef to five presidents, tells the story behind each of the holiday gingerbread houses he created for display in the white house state dining room. First published in 2011, the popular book was reprinted three times and is now sold out. Twentyfive years in the white house, you cant help but wonder how the last five presidents still managed to fit into the oval office by the end of their terms. In 2006, mesnier finally left the white house, but continued to keep his hands in the pastry dough. Roland mesniers basic to beautiful cakes by lauren chattman. Roland mesnier served as the white house pastry chef to five presidents. Roland mesniers basic to beautiful cakes by lauren.
Roland mesnier creating the sweet world of white house desserts. Roland s book signings are always personal and upbeat. He is currently at work on a fourth book with the white house. Chef mesnier also wrote the white house in gingerbread. He first became interested in becoming a chef when he visited his brothers. He developed the first professional pastry program in the washington, d. More than 300 spectacular recipes and essential lessons from white house pastry chef, roland mesnier by roland mesnier and lauren chattman categories.
Dec 09, 1981 hardly, according to roland mesnier, the white house pastry chef, who thinks the term nouvelle cuisine is an affectation referring to a style of cooking which has been around for a long time. His creations during his twenty five years as executive pastry chef 19792004 at the white house earned him. From my beginning as a young bakers apprentice in france to the grandeur of london. Roland mesnier is the author of four books, dessert university, white house desserts, basic to beautiful cakes and all the presidents pastries. Translated from the original french edition titled sugar state. Bill clinton had scary appetite, says former white house. More than 300 spectacular recipes and essential lessons from white house pastry chef roland mesnier roland mesnier. He is currently at work on a fourth book with the white house historical association which is scheduled for release in. After 25 years, chef mesnier will retire from the white house on july 30, 2004. In roland mesniers basic to beautiful cakes, chef mesnier offers a stunning selection of delicious and dependable cake recipes.
This is an inside look at life in the white house during the administrations of jimmy carter, ronald reagan, george bush, bill clinton and gw bush from the point of view of the french pastry chef in residence roland mesnier. A pastry chefs secrets, by former white house executive pastry chef roland mesnier and pastry assistant mark ramsdell. Reading master pastry chef roland mesniers all the presidents pastries. Chef mesnier also provides stepbystep instructions and templates for constructing and decorating a gingerbread house in the home kitchen. Roland mesnier author of all the presidents pastries. Buy a cheap copy of roland mesnier s basic to beautiful. Chef roland mesnier 26 years of white house service to five american presidents. By the time he retired in 2004, he had worked for five different presidents. Roland mesniers basic to beautiful cakes by roland mesnier. Roland mesnier s basic to beautiful cakes roland mesnier. Apr 24, 2015 he is the longest tenured white house chef ever pastry or culinary. See all books authored by roland mesnier, including dessert university.
More than 300 spectacular recipes and essential lessons from white house pastry chef, roland mesnier. Jan 10, 2012 roland mesnier, the former white house pastry chef from the carter administration through george w. Eat your books has indexed recipes from leading cookbooks and magazines as well recipes from the best food websites and blogs. It is much more than a book of recipes, but a journey of white house pastry chefs life that took him to the white house for 25 years and his relationships with 5 presidents and their families. Chef roland s books are available online and everywhere books are sold. First published in 2011, the popular book was reprinted three. In this memoir, roland mesnier, pastry chef to five presidents, recalls the. Chef roland mesnier book signing white house historical. Also available is the french translation of the same memoir titled sucree detat. Roland mesnier is the author of all the presidents pastries 3. Here chef mesnier recounts the story of the orange surprise. Roland mesniers basic to beautiful cakes book by roland.
495 207 1559 247 866 1505 1302 615 60 1549 451 321 1415 1403 548 859 575 430 22 1057 239 1133 1178 1266 595 1406 1251 385 502 777 762 79 1400 275 1384 400 1384 1414 786 30 444