Ex-White House chef to speak at Packard

WARREN — Roland Mesnier, former White House pastry chef, will speak at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 4 at W.D. Packard Music Hall.

One of nine children, Mesnier grew up in the village of Bonnay, France. He began his career in the kitchen at 14, working in various areas throughout Europe, Bermuda and eventually making his way to the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Va.

In 1979, first lady Rosalyn Carter hired Mesnier as the sole pastry chef at the White house.

As executive pastry chef for 25 years, he created thousands of elegant, delicious and dazzling desserts for presidents and their families, including Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

He recalls making, 1,500 cookies without any assistance and a half-ton fruitcake by himself.

He has prepared hundreds of desserts for state dinners over the years, never making the same dessert twice.

His first book, “Dessert University,” is filled with light-and-easy desserts having been served to presidents, kings, queens and heads of state from around the world. Mesnier developed the first professional pastry program in the Washington, D.C., area and L’Academie de Cuisine in Bethesda, Md., where every year a scholarship in his name is awarded.

Books will be available for purchasing and signing.

The Annual Table Setting Fair will take place before the lecture at 9:30 a.m.

After the lecture, a luncheon will be at Leo’s Restorante for subscribers and friends. Luncheon tickets are $15 and require advance reservations. A cash bar is available. Please make checks payable to Trumbull Town Hall Inc., P.O. Box 947, Warren, OH 44482 as soon as possible.

Individual lecture tickets are $25. Special group rates of 10 or more are available at $15 per ticket. College and high school students’ tickets are $15 each. Season tickets are $60 for all four lectures.