This extraordinary success-story-told by the hero himself-of a young French pastry chef who climbed his way to the top, embodies the great American...
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Nov 07, 2007
Karen
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This was an enjoyable book written by the pastry chef at the White House, hired by Rosalyn Carter and retired during W's reign. It gives lots and lots of details about each First Lady's entertaining style with observations about the personal behavior of the First Families. Chef Mesnier is clearly not a political animal; his adoration of each family is based more on longevity and comfort than politics, and he finds considerable unrest each time a new family appears. While one can't draw too man
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Mar 07, 2008
Emily
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Memoir of the White House pastry chef. He worked there for like 25 years and still kept coming up with dramatic new desserts. If I was the chef we would probably have cinnamon graham crakcers and milk for pretty much every occassion. Instead this dude was making sugar sculptures of world architecture and exotic vanilla pomegranite tangerine sorbets in the shape of the Chinese emperor's favorite flower. (Ok, I made that up, but only because I read the book last year and can't remember details
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May 07, 2010
Heather
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Reading this book, I realized that I have had a fascination with all things White House since reading, "The President's Daughter" and "White house Autumn" in junior high. This fed that very well. I really enjoyed seeing history from a completely different perspective. It is definitely a "memoir" so there is only as much detail as the pastry chef could provide and it's full of his commentary but thankfully he's appears to be the kind of guy you'd want to hear a st
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Mar 25, 2009
Donna
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This was a fun book, although it began to read like a grocery list toward the middle. I enjoyed learning about Mesnier's training and the "behind the scenes" workings of major hotels like the Savoy. As for Washington, this is no "tell all" book about Mesnier's experiences at the White House, but a serious description of his most successful dessert menus and events. Yet I wish for more personal context, more warm anecdotes--I still don't have a sense of Mesnier's life, just
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Jan 17, 2012
Sasdhill
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This is a highly entertaining behind the scenes look at the White House pastry kitchen. The book takes you from the Carter administration through George W Bush. The desserts and pastries that this guy made were incredible, some very interesting photos included. Favorite desserts of presidents and some impressions of famous visiting dignataries and notables are mentioned.
The chef himself has an overly inflated view of himself which must come with the territory.
The chef himself has an overly inflated view of himself which must come with the territory.
Dec 23, 2008
Shana
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An entertaining memoir from Roland Mesnier, who was the pastry chef at the White House for 25 years. I enjoyed the anectodes about the different presidents from Jimmy Carter to W. I was impressed how Mesnier tactfully told you a great deal about the personalities of the different First Ladies....
It got a bit long, but his retelling of the Sept. 11 period and the Iranian hostage crisis were especially poignant.
A enlightening focus on the First Ladies, even more than the
It got a bit long, but his retelling of the Sept. 11 period and the Iranian hostage crisis were especially poignant.
A enlightening focus on the First Ladies, even more than the
Aug 21, 2011
Mina
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Very interesting read. I especially loved the beginning of the book, detailing his childhood in rural France and his career before the White House. The last third of the book can get very repetitive, however, it was very interesting to me as a scholar of international relations to hear about the way he researched for foreign desserts.
Oct 02, 2009
LRK
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A very sweet (pardon the pun) reflection on 25 years of life spent as the chief pastry chef in the White House. I picked the book up because I was interested in this experience in particular, but I also deeply enjoyed reading about his childhood and apprenticeship and his early career in several of the world's greatest hotels. At points the book suffers slightly from being a translation, but the author's sincerity, loyalty, and good will always shine through.
Jan 04, 2009
Audrey
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Mesnier is definitely not a writer, and this was a translation to boot - so not the most stunning literary work. But the stories of his dessert creations and politics were fun, especially since he started under Carter and retired during W's reign.
Mar 03, 2009
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Really gave a different perspective of life in the white house and also gave me a good appreciation of what artists these pastry chefs are
Feb 17, 2009
Keren
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This is a delightful read from the point of view of the chief patissier in the White House. I loved it. And the recipes at the end are a great bonus!
Dec 01, 2009
Martha
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A memoir written by the pastry chef that served 25 years at the White House.
Jun 25, 2009
Laura
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This may not be the most well written memoir, but it is an accurate portrait of a chef's life. I also liked how the author refused to make political judgments. It was sweet and refreshing. When I read it a wave of memories from my own culinary apprenticeship rushed my mind. Readers looking for a glossy impressive invective will be disappointed. This memoir is a nice simple tale.
Jul 23, 2009
Jennie
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Really enjoyed M. Mesnier's perspective on his service in the White House. His history is a remarkable one, and his descriptions of the desserts he served made me wish I'd been invited to a state dinner or two. What was fascinating is that he kept the politics out of his book - the focus was on the families and I gained a new appreciation for all the families that he served.
May 07, 2008
Keri
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I had already read the White House Chef and enjoyed it, but found this book to be more interesting. Especially because Roland Mesnier was the pastry chef for 5 different presidents. I loved reading his personal history and all his descriptions of the marvelous desserts he created over the years. I just wish there had been more pictures. Very good read! :)
Jun 19, 2007
Garrett
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A journey through the pastries that accompanied major events in the white house over the last 25 years. Fun and light, simple writing, gets a bit repetitive after the 50th dessert. Shows the human side (as well as extravagance) of the White House, its residents, and its employees.
Oct 19, 2007
Rachel
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Got a little cloying in his constant praise for each of the presidents he served. I realize that he wants to stay in good favor with all of them but it got a old. Amazing things he made.
Oct 11, 2008
B
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921 Messnier The 20+ years memoirs of the White House pasty chef. Some revelations of the presidents and families although nothing shocking.
Apr 04, 2008
Yiotula
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I thought I would really enjoy this but I found the author to be pompous and boring. I almost didn't finish it and I finish all my books!!
Jan 28, 2009
Brit
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I liked reading about the romantic life of a pastry chef but the book read like a checklist and was a bit laborious because of it.
Jun 23, 2008
Caroline
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interesting to get a point of view from a pastry chef about the first families in the white house!
Dec 16, 2009
Tiffany
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Any interesting behind-the-scenes look at administrations from Carter to Dubya.
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