All the Presidents' Pastries: Twenty-Five Years in the White House, A Memoir

All the Presidents' Pastries: Twenty-Five Years in the White House, A Memoir See Latest Price & Discount EAN: 9782080305596 Editorial Reviews: Book Description 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 dream. After working at the Savoy in London, the George V in Paris, the Princess in Bermuda, and the Homestead in Virginia, Roland Mesnier took on the job of a lifetime as pastry chef to the White House. He provides behind-the-scenes insight into the characters, tastes, and obsessions of the five presidents and first ladies he served during his 25 years in Washington. Having witnessed major world events from the hub of the world's superpower, Mesnier has unique perspective on both crises and celebrations. He recounts stories such as Carter's incessant battle for the return of American hostages in Tehran, the aftermath of the attempt to assassinate Reagan, Bush senior's doubts after the war in Kuwait, and the shock of September 11. He uncovers intimate details such as Mrs. Reagan's bad moods and Prince Charles's embarrassment at not knowing how to use a tea bag. Fiercely loyal to each of the first families, Mesnier's bipartisan message is positive and inspirational. Twelve easy-to-follow recipes include the favorite desserts of presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. Customer Reviews: Review #1: All the Presidents Pastries 2007-03-20 Very good human interest story about the retired White House Pastry Chef. Review #2: Great story of how persistence pay off 2007-03-11 The first 100 pages of this book tell how Roland rises from a poor boy in rural France to be the pastry chef in the White House. They were really the best part of the book as it is quite a story. The book drags a bit when covering his time in the White House as he fills too much of it telling what dessert he made for this dinner or that one - and they all sound so good - but it doesn't add much too the book other than enphasizing Rolands use of fruit in almost every dessert. By the end of the book I was feeling uneasy about how much our goverment must pay in food bills for meals in the White House. The recipes in the back of the book look easy-I'm looking forward to trying some.