Marcel Desaulniers
| Marcel Desaulniers | |
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| Born |
1945 Woonsocket, Rhode Island, United States |
| Education | Culinary Institute of America |
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Culinary career | |
| Cooking style | American, Slow Food, Chocolate |
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Current restaurant(s)
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Previous restaurant(s)
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Television show(s)
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Marcel Desaulniers (born 1945) is an American chef who was part-owner of the Trellis Restaurant in Williamsburg, Virginia, a cookbook author, director Emeritus of the Culinary Institute of America, and self-described "Guru of Ganache." He is the author of the 1992 book Death by Chocolate.
Personal life
Desaulniers was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and resides in Williamsburg with his wife, Connie, who is an artist. He graduated from Mount Saint Charles Academy in 1963. He served in the United States Marine Corps and is a Vietnam veteran. In 1965, graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. Desaulniers serves as a Trustee Emeritus and Life Fellow of the Culinary Institute of America.
His daughter, Danielle Desaulniers, is a respected sommelier and restaurant consultant. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America and has worked at San Francisco's One Market Restaurant and at New York City's Restaurant Daniel, Café Boulud, Ducasse, and Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House.
Professional life
Restaurant
In 1980 Desaulniers opened the Trellis Restaurant in Colonial Williamsburg's Merchants Square. In addition to his residence and restaurant, Desaulniers maintains a food and art studio in Williamsburg which he has dubbed Ganache Hill.[1] Desaulniers and his business partner, John Curtis, have sold their landmark restaurant, The Trellis.[2] The Trellis was sold to David Everett, who owns and operates the Blue Talon Bistro, also located in the Square.[3] Desaulniers and Curtis operated the award winning Trellis restaurant for 29 years.[4] The restaurant was inducted into the Nation's Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame in 1995.[5] Desaulniers and his wife opened a new business, MAD about Chocolate, on April 24, 2012 (www.madaboutchocolate.us).[6] MAD about Chocolate offers Desaulniers' over-the-top desserts, cookies, cakes, ice cream, and other sweet and savory items. It is located at 204 Armistead Ave. in Williamsburg, VA. MAD about Chocolate also serves as a gallery for Connie Desaulniers' art.
Television
He has hosted several television cooking shows including "The Burgermeister" and "Death by Chocolate" and has appeared on Julia Child's television show, Baking with Julia and on PBS' cooking shows Cook-off America and Grilling Maestros.
Cookbooks
Desaulniers has written 10 cooking books[7] including "Death by Chocolate" (1992). His concentration on chocolate cuisine and his fondness for chocolate ganache has earned him the sobriquet of "Guru of Ganache."
Awards and honors
- Ivy Award: The Trellis, Restaurants and Institutions Magazine, 1989
- Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic, James Beard Foundation, 1993
- Best Pastry Chef: Mid-Atlantic James Beard Foundation[8]
- Best Dessert Book, James Beard Foundation, 1993
- Best Single Subject Cookbook: The Burger Meisters, James Beard Foundation, 1995
- Lifetime Achievement Award, Culinary Institute of America, 1996
- Outstanding Pasty Chef, James Beard Foundation, 1999
- Honor Roll of American Chefs, Food & Wine Magazine
Bibliography
- Desaulniers, Marcel (2003) [1992]. Death by Chocolate: The Last Word on a Consuming Passion. ISBN 0-8478-1564-1.
- Desaulniers, Marcel (1992). Trellis Cookbook: Expanded Edition. ISBN 0-671-74842-4.
- Desaulniers, Marcel (1994). Burger Meisters. ISBN 0-671-86538-2.
- Desaulniers, Marcel (1995). Desserts to Die for. ISBN 0-684-81139-1.
- Desaulniers, Marcel (1996). An Alphabet of Sweets. ISBN 0-8478-1981-7.
- Desaulniers, Marcel (1997). Death by Chocolate Cookies. ISBN 0-684-83197-X.
- Desaulniers, Marcel (1998). Salad Days: Main Course Salads for a First Class Meal. ISBN 0-684-82261-X.
- Desaulniers, Marcel (1999). Grilling Maestros: Recipes from the Public Television Series. ISBN 0-9651095-5-0.
- Desaulniers, Marcel; Brett Bailey; Kelly Bailey (2000). Death by Chocolate Cakes: an Astonishing Array of chocolate enchantment. photography by Duane Winfield. ISBN 0-688-16297-5.
- Desaulniers, Marcel (2002). Celebrate with Chocolate: totally over-the-top recipes. ISBN 0-688-16298-3.
- Desaulniers, Marcel (2007). I'm Dreaming of a Chocolate Christmas. ISBN 0-7645-9900-3.
- Desaulniers, Marcel (1988). The Trellis Cookbook. ISBN 1-55584-114-7.
Notes
External links
- Global Gourment - Marcel Desaulniers
- Baking with Julia - Marcel Desaulniers
- The Trellis, Williamsburg, VA
- Interview with Marcel Desaulniers
- Culinary Institute of America - Alumni Spotlight