Marcel Desaulniers
Encyclopedia
Marcel Desaulniers is the American chef
and part-owner of the Trellis Restaurant in Williamsburg, Virginia
, cookbook author, Director Emeritus
of the Culinary Institute of America
and self-described "Guru of Ganache
."
, and resides in Williamsburg with his wife, Connie, who is an artist. He served in the United States Marine Corps
and, 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
. 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 Steak House.
's television show, Baking with Julia
and on PBS
' cooking shows Cook-off America and Grilling Maestros.
cuisine and his fondness for chocolate ganache
has earned him the sobriquet of "Guru of Ganache."
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
and part-owner of the Trellis Restaurant in Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
, cookbook author, Director Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of the Culinary Institute of America
Culinary Institute of America
The Culinary Institute of America is a non-profit culinary college located in Hyde Park USA, founded in 1946. The CIA also has branch campuses in St. Helena, California, and San Antonio, Texas, as well as a campus in Singapore. It is a not-for-profit academic institution of higher learning...
and self-described "Guru of Ganache
Ganache
Ganache is a glaze, icing, or filling for pastries made from chocolate and cream.Ganache is normally made by heating cream, then pouring it over chopped dark semi-sweet chocolate...
."
Personal life
Desaulniers was born in Woonsocket, Rhode IslandWoonsocket, Rhode Island
Woonsocket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 41,186 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Woonsocket lies directly south of the Massachusetts border....
, and resides in Williamsburg with his wife, Connie, who is an artist. He served in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and, 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
Sommelier
A sommelier , or wine steward, is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, commonly working in fine restaurants, who specializes in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food matching...
. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America and has worked at San Francisco's One Market Restaurant and at New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Restaurant Daniel, Café Boulud, Ducasse, and Del Frisco's Steak House.
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. Desaulniers and his business partner, John Curtis, have sold their landmark restaurant, The Trellis. The Trellis was sold to David Everett, who owns and operates the Blue Talon Bistro, also located in the Square. Desaulniers and Curtis operated the award winning Trellis restaurant for 29 years. The restaurant was inducted into the Nation's Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame in 1995. He plans to pursue other ventures tied to the restaurant business through his new company, MAD About Food.Television
He has hosted several television cooking shows including "The Burgermeister" and "Death by Chocolate" and has appeared on Julia ChildJulia Child
Julia Child was an American chef, author, and television personality. She is recognized for introducing French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and her subsequent television programs, the most notable of which was The French Chef, which...
's television show, Baking with Julia
Baking With Julia
Baking With Julia is an American television cooking program produced by Julia Child and the name of the book which accompanied the series. Each episode featured one pastry chef or baker who demonstrates professional techniques that can be performed in a home kitchen...
and on PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
' cooking shows Cook-off America and Grilling Maestros.
Cookbooks
Desaulniers has written 10 cooking books including "Death by Chocolate." His concentration on chocolateChocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
cuisine and his fondness for chocolate ganache
Ganache
Ganache is a glaze, icing, or filling for pastries made from chocolate and cream.Ganache is normally made by heating cream, then pouring it over chopped dark semi-sweet chocolate...
has earned him the sobriquet of "Guru of Ganache."
Awards and honors
- Ivy Award: The Trellis, Restaurants and Institutions MagazineRestaurants & InstitutionsRestaurants & Institutions was a trade publication and web site owned by Reed Business Information serving the information needs of foodservice professionals at chains, independent restaurants, hotels and institutions....
, 1989 - Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic, James Beard FoundationJames Beard FoundationThe James Beard Foundation is a New York-based national professional non-profit organization named in honor of James Beard that serves to promote the culinary arts by honoring chefs, wine professionals, journalists, and cookbook authors at annual award ceremonies and providing scholarships and...
, 1993 - Best Pastry Chef: Mid-Atlantic James Beard FoundationJames Beard FoundationThe James Beard Foundation is a New York-based national professional non-profit organization named in honor of James Beard that serves to promote the culinary arts by honoring chefs, wine professionals, journalists, and cookbook authors at annual award ceremonies and providing scholarships and...
- Best Dessert Book, James Beard FoundationJames Beard FoundationThe James Beard Foundation is a New York-based national professional non-profit organization named in honor of James Beard that serves to promote the culinary arts by honoring chefs, wine professionals, journalists, and cookbook authors at annual award ceremonies and providing scholarships and...
, 1993 - Best Single Subject Cookbook: The Burger Meisters, James Beard FoundationJames Beard FoundationThe James Beard Foundation is a New York-based national professional non-profit organization named in honor of James Beard that serves to promote the culinary arts by honoring chefs, wine professionals, journalists, and cookbook authors at annual award ceremonies and providing scholarships and...
, 1995 - Lifetime Achievement Award, Culinary Institute of AmericaCulinary Institute of AmericaThe Culinary Institute of America is a non-profit culinary college located in Hyde Park USA, founded in 1946. The CIA also has branch campuses in St. Helena, California, and San Antonio, Texas, as well as a campus in Singapore. It is a not-for-profit academic institution of higher learning...
, 1996 - Outstanding Pasty Chef, James Beard FoundationJames Beard FoundationThe James Beard Foundation is a New York-based national professional non-profit organization named in honor of James Beard that serves to promote the culinary arts by honoring chefs, wine professionals, journalists, and cookbook authors at annual award ceremonies and providing scholarships and...
, 1999 - Honor Roll of American Chefs, Food & Wine MagazineFood & Wine MagazineFood & Wine is a monthly magazine published by American Express Publishing. It was founded in 1978 by Ariane and Michael Batterberry. It features recipes, cooking tips, travel information, restaurant reviews, chefs, wine pairings and seasonal/holiday content and has been credited by The New York...