Jean-Paul Hévin facts for kids
Jean-Paul Hévin is a famous French chocolate maker. He was born on December 10, 1957, in Méral, France. He is known for making fancy, high-quality chocolates. He has many stores around the world, including 6 in Paris, 11 in Japan, 1 in Hong Kong, and 2 in Taipei. His main office is in Paris.
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Jean-Paul Hévin's Journey in Chocolate
Starting Out as a Pastry Chef
Jean-Paul Hévin began his sweet journey in 1974. He earned a special certificate to become a confectioner (someone who makes candies and sweets), a chocolatier (a chocolate expert), and an ice cream maker. The next year, he started working as an apprentice (a trainee) at the Intercontinental Hotel.
In 1976, Hévin moved to the Nikko hotel. He worked there as an apprentice and then became a pastry chef (someone who bakes cakes and pastries). He stayed at the Nikko hotel until 1988.
Opening His Own Shops
In 1988, Jean-Paul Hévin opened his very first shop in Paris. It was called "Le Petit Boulé." He opened another shop in Paris in 1990. Later, in 1997, he opened a tea house in Rue Saint Honoré, a famous street in Paris.
Expanding Around the World
Jean-Paul Hévin started to share his chocolates with the world in 2002. He opened two chocolate-themed bars in Japan. He had actually worked in Japan before, leading a pastry lab in Tokyo. Over the years, he opened more stores in Paris and Japan. He also created new chocolate treats, like cheese-flavored chocolate snacks and chocolate energy bars.
In March 2008, he opened two more shops, this time in Hong Kong.
Jean-Paul Hévin's Personal Story
Jean-Paul Hévin's father was a farmer. His mother loved to cook and taught him his first recipes. Even though his father enjoyed sweets, cakes were not the most important thing in their home. Jean-Paul only started making pastries when he was 13, beginning with simple pies.
At first, Hévin wanted to be an electronic engineer. He applied to a school for it, but he missed the deadline. So, he decided to learn about pastry instead! He went to a technical school in Laval, France. There, he earned his certificate to become a confectioner and chocolate maker.
Awards and Achievements
Jean-Paul Hévin has won many awards for his amazing chocolate and pastry skills. Here are some of them:
- 1979: Gold medal at the Arpajon Gourmet Contest.
- 1980: First prize at the Charles Proust contest.
- 1982: First Prize at the French Cup of Pastry.
- 1983: First Prize at the World Chocolat Master competition.
- 1984: First Prize at the Arpajon Gourmet Contest again.
- 1986: He was named "Best French Workman" (Meilleur Ouvrier de France) for Pastry and Confectionery. This is a very high honor in France.
- 2003: He received "Five Bars" from the Club des Croqueurs de Chocolat, a famous chocolate lovers' club.
- 2004: He was named the number one chocolate maker in Japan by a Japanese newspaper.
- 2005: His macaroon (a small, sweet cookie) was chosen as Paris's Best Macaroon in the "Classic" category.
