A Halloween Chocolatier Chat with Jacques Torres and Paola Velez
- When
- October 21, 2024
- Where
- Virtual Event
Even chocolatiers love Halloween candy! Join the Jacques Pépin Foundation for a frightfully fun virtual event with pastry pros Jacques Torres and Paola Velez as they chat about chocolatier life, taste the most popular Halloween candies, and share what mentorship means to them. This 60 minute virtual event is perfect for families who want to learn about chocolate together – and have a little fun, too!
Highlights
- Join Jacques and Paola as they reunite after working together as chocolatiers years ago
- Taste along at home as these pastry pros evaluate popular Halloween candies (shopping list coming soon!)
- See Jacques demonstrate a small chocolate sculpture as his former sous chef Paola assists him, and hear what mentorship and cultivating the next generation of culinary talent means to these star chefs
- Submit questions for Jacques and Paola in advance by emailing events@jp.foundation
- All proceeds from this event will support the Jacques Pépin Foundation
Details
- This virtual event will be hosted on a protected Zoom link; one ticket is needed per Zoom device
- Virtual event begins at 7 PM
Event Hosts
Jacques Torres
Chef/Owner of Jacques Torres Chocolate
Jacques Torres is the authority on all things chocolate – that’s why we call him Mr. Chocolate™! As the Executive Pastry Chef at the iconic Le Cirque restaurant in New York City, Jacques served his magical and memorable desserts to presidents, kings, and celebrities. He fulfilled his American dream in 2000 with the opening of his first chocolate store and factory, “Jacques Torres Chocolate” in Brooklyn, and pioneered the bean-to-bar movement as the first artisan in New York blending his own chocolate. Since then, he has opened several retail locations throughout New York City and expanded his production to meet demand. Since 2018, Jacques has also served as the Head Judge on the popular Netflix baking competition show, Nailed It!
Paola Velez
Chef/Owner of Dōekï Dōekï
Before Paola Velez was a culinary diplomat for the United States and a founder of the Bakers Against Racism viral bake sale, she was a chocolatier at Jacques Torres’ Brooklyn chocolate shop. She then moved to Washington, D.C. to work with Christina Tosi at Milk Bar, and has since cooked in some of the city’s most acclaimed kitchens. With her infectious positivity, quirky social media videos and keen eye on the micro-trends of the moment, Paola is now a nationally recognized chef and cookbook author. Her debut cookbook, Bodega Bakes, was published this fall.