Category Archives: blog

“I had never heard of the MOF before Kings of Pastry,” said the curly-haired woman next to me, “I was amazed by how much those chefs gave to that thing. There’s not even a cash prize!” “That’s how it is with the really serious cooking competitions,” quipped the man next to her from under his NY Mets cap, “it’s a whole different ball game to them. None of this $10,000-prize- plus-new-kitchen-appliances stuff. It’s about the honor; the medal.” There I was, at a community meeting in my New York neighborhood, when suddenly the conversation veered away from the local composting center and right into Lyon and the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France. The meeting was coming to a close, and the attendees were starting to gather around the large table in the back of the room, where appetizers and drinks were laid out. I had been munching on a chicken empanada when someone asked me for the name of the film company I work at. Before I could finish my response, “Pennebaker Hegedus Fil—“, three people shouted … Continue reading →

After the film, visit PBS online and learn more about the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France through interactive features such as this one!

Dessert Professional magazine, the nation’s leading publication of the pastry, ice cream and chocolate industries, named the top toques of tuile, cocoa and sugar at a ceremony on Monday, June 6 at The Institute for Culinary Education in New York, and Jacquy Pfeiffer was this year’s Hall Of Fame honoree. Congratulations, Jacquy!  

“Kings of Pastry” is available on DVD! Get yours now!

For our upcoming DVD release of “Kings of Pastry,” we’re including an outtake of a fashion show held for the French Pastry School’s annual charity event “For the Love of Chocolate.”

“The competition involves nerve-racking suspense and bittersweet resolution – you’ll be surprised by how devastating the collapse of a chocolate tower can be.” – Mike Hale, NY Times

Auntie Loo’s Treats is teaming up with the Mayfair to present Kings of Pastry on January 31st & February 2nd at 7 pm, and they will be bringing lots of baked goods for sampling and for sale to the January 31st screening. Come check it out!

The National Film Board of Canada has honored our very own D.A. Pennebaker with the John Grierson International Gold Medal Award. The award recognizes “his pioneering work and ongoing contributions in the field of documentary production,” including “development of one of the first fully portable, synchronized 16 MM camera and sound recording systems which revolutionized the immediate style of documentary film making.” Congratulations from everyone at Pennebaker Hegedus Films!

Culturevulture contributor Emily Mendel lists her picks for the ten best films of the year…

After many requests, Film Forum is bringing Kings of Pastry back for NINE days starting this Wednesday, January 5th. Showtimes are 1pm, 4:30pm and 8pm. Start the year off in sparkling fashion and see what all the critics are raving about!

“Who would have guessed that the most heartbreaking TV moment of the year would involve a grown man attempting to place a hilariously frou-frou sugar sculpture on a cake? The cherry on the top of a bizarre, involving and unmissable film.” – Phil Harrison, Time Out London

In case you missed us the first time around, we have another screening coming up in Chicago at the Beverly Arts Center on December 15th, 2010. Symphony Space in New York will also be screening our film on December 19th and 26th, 2010 and January 2nd, 2011. Hope you can make it!

San Francisco chocolatier Michael Recchiuti will be granting a post-screening Q&A session for Kings of Pastry on Saturday, December 11 at 7:10 p.m. at the Balboa Theatre. Recchiuti is expected to bring plenty of chocolate samples!

Go to rottentomatoes.com to see what the critics are saying about Kings of Pastry.

LA premier and party at Spago attract pastry elite.

Last two days to see Kings of Pastry

Watch the show here. Make the recipe.

Check out the premiere on Paris Breakfast.

Paris Breakfast says of Kings of Pastry “OH BOY OH BOY was it fun”

Kings of Pastry is this Falls Village Voice pick!

The Institute of Arts and Popular Traditions of Alsace will honor Chef Jacquy Pfeiffer in Strasbourg on October 2, 2010 with the Bretzel d’Or, or “Golden Pretzel” award. Each year, the institute recognizes talented Alsatians who preserve the arts and traditions of Alsace, the culturally rich, eastern region of France, bordering Lorraine and Franche-Comté, with Germany to the east and Switzerland to the south. Chef Pfeiffer and other Golden Pretzel recipients not only safeguard Alsatian heritage, but promote it within the region, around France, and throughout the world. Chef Pfeiffer, originally from a small town near Strasbourg in Alsace, began his pastry training there, going on to work as Executive Pastry Chef for renowned establishments and international dignitaries like the Royal Family in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; the Sultan of Brunei; the Hyatt Regency in Hong Kong; and both the Fairmont and Sheraton hotels in Chicago, Illinois. Chef Pfeiffer, along with Chef Sébastien Canonne, M.O.F., later founded The French Pastry School in Chicago. “Receiving this award is a true honor,” said Jacquy Pfeiffer, Co-Founder and Academic Dean … Continue reading →

Welcome to the Kings of Pastry Blog. What should you expect from this blog? Why should you bother visiting? If you are interested in French Culinary Culture, this will be a great place to learn more about the M.O.F competition. We will post updates about the film and news about the M.O.F chefs and competitors featured in the film. While shooting this documentary, we have compiled a ton of incredible footage of M.O.F chefs and competitors at work. We look forward to sharing some of this exclusive footage. If you are an aspiring chef, this blog will feature recipes and tips from world renowned chefs so that you can try your hand at creating M.O.F grade desserts. If you have not yet seen the film, please check back for new screening dates and information. Since the film’s release, Kings of Pastry has been featured on many food and film blogs. We hope that this blog will foster further conversation about the film and French Culinary Culture more broadly. Best, The Kings of Pastry Team