Roland Mesnier facts for kids
Mesnier does a cooking demonstration at the 2007 Texas Book Festival
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| Born | July 8, 1944 Bonnay, France |
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| Died | August 26, 2022 (aged 78) Burke, Virginia, U.S. |
| Cooking style | Pastries and cakes |
| Education | Apprenticeship |
| Spouse | Martha |
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Current restaurant(s)
Retired
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| Official website | |
| Official website: http://www.chefrolandmesnier.com/ | |
Roland Mesnier (born July 8, 1944 – died August 26, 2022) was a famous pastry chef and writer. He was born in France but became an American citizen. For 25 years, from 1979 to 2004, he was the Executive Pastry Chef at the White House. People thought his amazing cakes and desserts were the work of a creative genius.
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Becoming a Pastry Chef
Roland Mesnier grew up in a big family with nine children in a small French village called Bonnay. He first became interested in cooking when he visited his brother's pastry shop. It looked like a fun and exciting place to work!
When Roland was 14, his mother helped him get a special training job, called an apprenticeship, at a pastry shop in Besançon. He worked very long hours, from 6 AM to 8 PM, six days a week. In return, he earned a small amount of money, had a place to live, and learned how to cook.
Learning the Ropes
At first, Roland had to do simple jobs like grocery shopping. This was to see if he was truly serious about becoming a chef. He stuck with it and soon learned how to make delicious cakes, croissants, and brioche. He also started working with puff pastry and learning how to shape chocolate. These skills became very important later in his career.
When he was 17, Roland passed his apprenticeship exam. He then looked for jobs that would help him get even better at his craft and build his reputation.
Adventures in Europe
Roland eventually moved to Paris, where he worked in a restaurant and pastry shop. He learned everything he could there. His boss then suggested he go to West Germany, where cooking techniques were even more advanced.
In Germany, Roland lived in cities like Hamburg and Hanover. He learned how to make beautiful shapes with marzipan. He also mastered making different kinds of cakes, cookies, and fondant. While there, he even learned to speak German and English!
White House Pastry Chef
In 1979, the First Lady, Rosalynn Carter, hired Roland Mesnier to be the White House pastry chef. He worked there for 25 years, creating amazing desserts for presidents, their families, and important guests. He retired on July 30, 2004.
Later Life
In 1967, Roland met his wife, Martha Whiteford, while he was working in Bermuda. She was a teacher from West Virginia. They had one son together.
After he retired from the White House, Roland wrote a book about his experiences. It was called All the President's Pastries and came out in 2007.
Roland Mesnier passed away on August 26, 2022, at the age of 78.
