Washington, Aug 28 (AFP\/APP): Roland Mesnier, the French-born longtime pastry chef at the White House whose whimsical confections served five American presidents, has died at age 78, relatives told AFP Sunday.<\/p>\n
The culinary master — who joined the presidential mansion’s staff in 1979 under Jimmy Carter and worked there until his 2004 retirement during George W. Bush’s tenure — died Friday in the US state of Virginia, his son George and older sister Genevieve Guyez Mesnier said.<\/p>\n
“I have such fond memories of Chef Mesnier,” former first lady Hillary Clinton said Saturday in a Twitter post.<\/p>\n
“He loved making people smile with his beautiful creations, including his famous gingerbread houses at Christmas,” she added. “He will be missed!”
\nMesnier, a French citizen who became a naturalized American, served as White House executive pastry chef for 25 years.<\/p>\n
“His passion, commitment, and love for his work will always be remembered,” the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute said.
\nMesnier was born in Bonnay, a small village in eastern France, into a modest family of nine children. After serving his apprenticeship in the nearby city of Besancon, he worked in large hotels in Germany, Britain and Bermuda before the Carters hired him.<\/p>\n
After hanging up his white hat and chef’s jacket, he published several books and spoke extensively about his White House experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Washington, Aug 28 (AFP\/APP): Roland Mesnier, the French-born longtime pastry chef at the White House whose whimsical confections served five American presidents, has died at age 78, relatives told AFP Sunday. The culinary master — who joined the presidential mansion’s staff in 1979 under Jimmy […]<\/p>\n
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