Lenotre

Mr. Hennequin said he would choose pillows over macarons—pastries produced by Lenotre—when it comes to investments.

Accor Wants To Work With Lenotre Unit After Sale, CEO Says Mimosa Spencer 2011

PARIS—French hotels group Accor SA would like to keep working with its catering business Lenotre once it is sold, Chief Executive Denis Hennequin said Monday.

Accor Wants To Work With Lenotre Unit After Sale, CEO Says Mimosa Spencer 2011

Pushing 90 and ailing, Lenotre had agreed to talk to me and a team of filmmakers for film I am doing on the MOF competition.

Flora Lazar: Gaston Lenotre, "God of Desserts," Dies at 88 2010

A good baguette, Lenotre told Bouley, who went on to work with many of the legendary French chefs of the 70s and 80s, is "caramel on the outside and meringue on the inside."

Flora Lazar: Gaston Lenotre, "God of Desserts," Dies at 88 2010

Over a decade later, Lenotre plucked Canonne, one of the five pastry "MOF" s working in the U.S., from a promising career in cooking and convinced him to join the maiden class of pastry apprentices at Lenotre's Plaisir facility.

Flora Lazar: Gaston Lenotre, "God of Desserts," Dies at 88 2010

Countless culinary professionals in France, especially, trace there style and technique to Lenotre -- or Monsieur Lenotre as he was always known because, endearing as he was, he inspired so much awe that no one, rich or poor, weak or mighty, would ever want to call him anything else, Sebastien Canonne, co-founder of Chicago's French Pastry School said.

Flora Lazar: Gaston Lenotre, "God of Desserts," Dies at 88 2010

Lenotre had a rigor, "a way to work, a way to think, and a way to handle ingredients," Medrich said.

Flora Lazar: Gaston Lenotre, "God of Desserts," Dies at 88 2010

When Lenotre first opened his school in the early 1970s, many in the field questioned the wisdom of sharing recipes and techniques that might fall into the hands of competitors.

Flora Lazar: Gaston Lenotre, "God of Desserts," Dies at 88 2010

Creator of now-commonplace products such as multi-layer cakes with mousse and macarons, Lenotre is widely considered to be the greatest pastry chef of the twentieth century.

Flora Lazar: Gaston Lenotre, "God of Desserts," Dies at 88 2010

Even with lowly stagiares, Lenotre made sure everyone saw they were number one when he was talking with them, Canonne said.

Flora Lazar: Gaston Lenotre, "God of Desserts," Dies at 88 2010