Executive Pastry Chef Jean-Claude Canestrier
Take a walk through our Studio B Buffet or Baby Cakes patisserie and you’re bound to see some of Executive Pastry Chef Jean-Claude Canestrier’s culinary artistry. From pulled sugar sculptures to a collection of exquisite chocolates , Chef Jean-Claude is a confection master. His many distinguished awards include winning the title of World Champion Pastry Chef in 2002 and the USA National Pastry Championship in 2001.
What began as a love for sweet treats quickly became a career. With more than 25 years of experience, Chef Jean-Claude (and his team) whip up confections daily for hundreds and thousands of guests dining at the M Resort or having events, meetings and parties here. His creations are featured in the buffet, patisserie and throughout the resort.
On a walk through the pastry kitchen, Chef Jean-Claude offers an insider’s view of the operation. Trays of Christmas cookies are stacked on rolling racks. Shells for gingerbread houses sit waiting to be used. Chef Jean-Claude, in his white jacket, makes sure every last drop of frosting is spread evenly and to perfection. He wipes his hands on his flour-covered jacket. Looking down, his shoes are equally splattered with frosting and sugar – true marks of a pastry chef.
“Our desserts are prepared from quality ingredients, filled with flavor and texture and beautifully presented,” says Chef Jean-Claude, in his charismatic French accent. You can tell that this is one Frenchman who is quite serious about his sweets.
“I don’t really have a favorite thing to make. I do what I have to do. I make gingerbread houses, sugar displays, cakes, gelato. People love gelato,” he says shrugging. “But I can’t make a lot of interesting flavors because people always like just chocolate, strawberry, vanilla,” he says with a smirk.
His days are long and end with lists of more things to do the next day. “I enjoy it, though. I love to see people happy and enjoying the desserts that I have made,” says Chef Jean-Claude.
*****
Our “Willie Wonka” will be whipping up weekly specials inside Baby Cakes, starting today.
- This week – Signature M Sugar Cookies
- Week 2 – Christmas Fruit Cakes
- Week 3 – Chocolate Orange Panettone
- Week 4 – Italian Holiday Pine Nut Cookies
Just follow your nose…but, if you can’t smell…Baby Cakes is conveniently located adjacent to the main lobby.
Hours – Sun-Thurs: 7 am to 10 pm; Fri-Sat: 7 am to 11 pm
Tags: Baby Cakes, Chef Jean-Claude, M Resort, pastry, patisserie
