Chocolate + love stories with Jacques & Hasty Torres

 
 

De Gustibus Cooking School: "Icing On The Cake" class, taught by Jacques & Hasty Torres

Allie Beck, my dear friend and recent FCI grad, invited me as her +1 for Jacques Torres' "Icing On The Cake" class held at the De Gustibus Cooking School.  "Meet me on the 8th floor of Macy's at 5:20pm," she instructed.  "What's Macy's got to do with this?"  I wondered.  Well sure enough, De Gustibus does occupy an ample amount of space on the department store's 8th floor.

I wasn't sure what to expect from, not only this particular "school," but the class itself.  Would we be cooking?  Should I have worn close-toed shoes?  

Our class of approximately 40 students was warmly greeted by Her Culinary Majesty, Arlene Sailhac, who introduced instructors, Jacques "Mr. Chocolat" Torres, and his wife, Hasty "Madame Chocolat" Torres.  Luckily for us students, our only assignment was to observe the Mister and his Missus as they prepared a chocolate tasting, and spoke candidly about everything from cocoa nibs to falling in love.   

Please enjoy some of my favorite snapshots from 3 glorious, Tattinger champagne + chocoloate-filled hours with Mr. and Mrs. Jacques Torres...

 
Jacques & Hasty Torres

Jacques & Hasty Torres

Fellow classmates

Fellow classmates

Amuse bouche of sweet chocolate and savory marscapone cheese

Amuse bouche of sweet chocolate and savory marscapone cheese

100% chocolate! Note the purse that she's carrying, which is chocolate, too!

100% chocolate! Note the purse that she's carrying, which is chocolate, too!

I dream of Christina Louboutin pumps made out of solid chocolate…

I dream of Christina Louboutin pumps made out of solid chocolate…

Marshmallow-on-a-stick, dipped in chocolate and rolled in crushed graham crackers

Marshmallow-on-a-stick, dipped in chocolate and rolled in crushed graham crackers

Tasting plate: clockwise - chocolate marshmallows, peanut brittle drizzled with dark chocolate, mendients

Tasting plate: clockwise - chocolate marshmallows, peanut brittle drizzled with dark chocolate, mendients

Vanilla-bean custard-filled bomboloni: the stuff that death-row wish lists are made of

Vanilla-bean custard-filled bomboloni: the stuff that death-row wish lists are made of

 

Until we eat again,

Lindsay, The Lunch Belle