Jacques Torres facts for kids
| Born | 14 June 1959 Algiers, French Algeria |
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| Spouse |
Hasty Khoei
(after 2007) |
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Current restaurant(s)
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Television show(s)
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Jacques Torres (born June 14, 1959) is a famous French pastry chef and chocolatier who lives in New York. He is known for his amazing chocolate creations. Jacques is also a Dean of Pastry Arts at the International Culinary Center. You might know him as a judge on the fun TV show Nailed It!.
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Jacques Torres' Early Life and Training
Jacques Torres was born in Algiers. He grew up in Bandol, a small fishing village in the south of France. When Jacques was 15 years old, he started learning how to make pastries at a local shop. He finished his training in just two years and was the best in his class!
In 1980, he began working with Jacques Maximin, a chef who had earned two stars from the famous Michelin Guide. This guide gives stars to the best restaurants. During this time, Jacques also went to culinary school to earn his Master Pastry Chef degree. From 1983 to 1986, he taught pastry classes at a cooking school in Cannes. In 1986, Jacques Torres made history. He became the youngest person ever to win the Meilleur Ouvrier de France competition. This award means "Best Craftsman of France" and is a very high honor for chefs.
Moving to the United States and Opening His Own Business
Jacques Torres moved to the United States in 1988. He first worked as the main pastry chef for the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company. After that, he spent 11 years as the Executive Pastry Chef at a famous restaurant called Le Cirque.
In 1993, Jacques joined the teachers at the International Culinary Center. He helped create the Classic Pastry Arts Curriculum in 1996. After that, he became the school's Dean of Pastry Arts.
In 2000, Jacques left Le Cirque to open his very own chocolate factory and shop in Brooklyn, New York. Today, there are eight Jacques Torres shops! This includes a chocolate factory in the Brooklyn Army Terminal and an ice cream shop in Grand Central Terminal. In March 2017, Jacques opened New York City's first chocolate museum. It is called Choco-Story New York. This museum is about 5,000 square feet and is located at his main store in Manhattan.
Family Life and Television Appearances
In 2007, Jacques Torres married Hasty Khoei, who is also a chocolatier. She used to work for Jacques in his chocolate factory. Hasty owned her own chocolate shop called Madame Chocolat in Beverly Hills, California.
Jacques and Hasty have two children. Their son, Pierre, was born on August 19, 2016. Their daughter, Jacqueline, was born on April 5, 2019. The family lives in New York City.
You might have seen Jacques Torres on TV! He was a judge on Season 4 of Next Great Baker. He is also a judge and co-host on the funny cooking show Nailed It! with Nicole Byer.
Awards and Recognition
Jacques Torres has won many important awards. These include the James Beard Foundation Pastry Chef of the Year. The James Beard Foundation gives awards to top chefs in America. He also won the Meilleur Ouvrier de France and the Chefs of America Pastry Chef of the Year.
He is a member of the Académie Culinaire de France, which is a group of top French chefs. In 2003, the James Beard Foundation added him to their Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America. This means he is recognized as one of the most important people in the food world.
Jacques Torres has also written two cookbooks called Dessert Circus. He was the host of the Food Network TV show Chocolate with Jacques Torres. In 2004, he opened another chocolate factory and shop in Manhattan called Jacques Torres Chocolate Haven.
On May 13, 2010, Jacques Torres and other famous chefs from the French Culinary Institute (now the International Culinary Center) prepared a special dinner. This dinner was for U.S. President Barack Obama's fund-raiser at Manhattan's St. Regis Hotel.
Chocolate with Jacques Torres TV Show
Chocolate with Jacques Torres is a North American TV cooking show hosted by Jacques Torres. It first aired on the Food Network in 2002. The show was filmed in both the United States and France. Sometimes, it was even filmed in Jacques' home region of Provence.
The show mainly focuses on amazing desserts made with chocolate. This includes chocolate sculptures, fancy centerpieces, and other edible art. Jacques often explains how viewers can make these creations at home.
Images for kids
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A Jacques Torres Chocolate store in Brooklyn.
