Hosted in partnership with the White House Historical Association, Jim Hewes, legendary bartender at The Willard InterContinental's iconic Round Robin Bar will be joined by former renowned White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier for December's History Happy Hour. Bakers and history buffs alike will appreciate an insider’s perspective on White House holiday traditions as Chef Mesnier leads an intimate conversation regarding his 25-year tenure in the White House pastry kitchen. Guests will observe firsthand his famed culinary skills while hearing wonderful stories on the six presidencies during which he worked, all while learning how to make a few holiday-inspired dessert cocktails.
In conversation with:
Roland Mesnier, former Executive Pastry Chef at The White House
Roland Mesnier has been a pastry chef for five presidents over 25 years. One of nine children born to a family in rural, post–World War II France, he began his career as a pastry apprentice at the age of twelve and made his way up, working at the world’s most prestigious hotels. In 1979, First Lady Rosalynn Carter hired him as head pastry chef at the White House. During his twenty-five years there, he created stunning desserts for more than forty queens, kings, princes, princesses, and heads of state, and he was beloved for his famous series of gingerbread houses displayed in the State Dining Room each Christmas holiday. He continues to educate expert and novice bakers about his craft with his books, and he travels around the world teaching pastry techniques and sharing fond memories of life at the White House. Among his many books is The White House in Gingerbread: Memories & Recipes and A Sweet World of White House Desserts published by the White House Historical Association.
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About History Happy Hour
Held monthly at the Willard InterContinental, this two-hour event distills American history through cocktails, while also providing attendees a hands-on class on the art of cocktail making. Led by Jim Hewes, a venerable mixologist and legendary bartender at The Willard's iconic Round Robin Bar, and featuring rotating historians, authors and journalists to name a few, History Happy Hour offers a mixology lesson "straight up" with history "served long", a perfect pairing for cocktail aficionados and history buffs.
About the White House Historical Association
The White House Historical Association is a private non-profit educational organization with a mission to enhance the understanding and appreciation of the Executive Mansion. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy founded the Association in 1961 to help the White House collect and exhibit the very best artifacts of American history and culture. Today, our acquisition, preservation, research, and education efforts continue through generous private donations and the sale of our books, products, and the official White House Ornament.
