This is a photograph of a pulled sugar violet basket, likely served on a cookie tray for Queen Noor of the Kingdom of Jordan, possibly during a tea in November 1981, during the Reagan Administration. Almost every dessert created by White House Executive Chef Roland Mesnier featured some kind of sugar work, from pulled-sugar flowers, fruit, animals, balloons, baskets, and ribbons. While working at the White House, Chef Mesnier used all the tools available to him to create realistic creations, some of which are not commercially available. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This is a dessert tray made out of sugar likely crafted by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesner. The tray features mini cakes and cookies surrounded by sugar decorations. Almost every dessert created by Chef Mesnier featured some kind of sugar work, from pulled-sugar flowers, fruit, animals, balloons, baskets, and ribbons. While working at the White House, Chef Mesnier used all the tools available to him to create realistic creations, some of which are not commercially available. For this display, Mesnier would have used pulled sugar to create the flowers and ribbons on the tray. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This is a photograph of White House pastry chef Susan "Susie" E. Morrison with a giant chocolate egg created for an Easter dessert buffet in the East Room of the White House. The egg is painted with sugar to simulate a Claude Monet watercolor painting. It is also decorated with molded chocolate roosters. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This is a photograph of President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan departing Marine One after arriving on the South Lawn White House. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This is a photograph of pastry chefs Susan "Susie" E. Morrison and Marlene Roudebush and another unidentified staff member posing in front of the 2002 White House Gingerbread House in the State Dining Room. That year's gingerbread house featured the South Portico of the White House. The theme that year was a nod to the animals that inhabited the White House. Hand modeled marzipan figures of presidential pets littered the gingerbread house, featuring cats, dogs, the Adams alligator, the Madison macaw, the Lincoln turkey, the Hayes Jersey cow and peacock, the Wilson sheep, the Coolidge goose, the Kennedy pony, and the Reagan goldfish. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This is a photograph of the 2003 White House Gingerbread House on display in the State Dining Room. This was the last gingerbread house that White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier created before his retirement. This house features famous storybook characters decorating the White House, which followed the White House Christmas theme “A Season of Stories.” Chef Mesnier and his staff created marzipan figures of characters from popular children’s stories. This included: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Alice in Wonderland, Humpty Dumpty, Charlotte’s Web, Winnie the Pooh, The Three Little Pigs, The Secret Garden, James and the Giant Peach, Anne of the Green Gables, The Cat in the Hat, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Peter Rabbit, and Rapunzel. Another detail included an open window on the top floor featuring a scene from Goodnight Moon, First Lady Laura Welch Bush’s favorite children’s book. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This photograph features the 1996 White House Gingerbread House on display in the State Dining Room. For the Clinton family's first three years in the White House, White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier created gingerbread houses President Bill Clinton, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, and their cat, Socks. The 1996 gingerbread house was inspired by Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of President and Mrs. Clinton. For Chelsea's gingerbread, Chef Mesnier brought the ballet The Nutcracker to life, a ballet that she performed with the Washington Ballet. The party scene from the first act of The Nutcracker ballet is displayed in icing. A figure in the front wearing a pink dress is a likeness of Chelsea attending the party. Socks is featured in the background on a portrait. Two large gingerbread nutcrackers decorate the outside of the house alongside Santa Clause and his reindeer. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This photograph features the 1999 White House Gingerbread House on display in the State Dining Room. For the last holiday season of the century, the theme at the White House was about honoring the past. At the same time as the building of the gingerbread houses, the White House was preparing for a millennium celebration to be held on December 31, 1999. Americans were invited to decorate the White House with representations of national landmarks and portraits of important Americans. With this theme, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton requested the gingerbread house to be a display of architectural treasures from the Nation’s Capital. Joining the White House in gingerbread form included the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, Mount Vernon, and the Potomac River weaving through each design. Decorations included marzipan swags and fruit topiaries, traditional colonial Christmas decorations, and sugar fireworks to the tops of the four gingerbread buildings. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This photograph features the 1999 White House Gingerbread House on display in the State Dining Room. For the last holiday season of the century, the theme at the White House was about honoring the past. At the same time as the building of the gingerbread houses, the White House was preparing for a millennium celebration to be held on December 31, 1999. Americans were invited to decorate the White House with representations of national landmarks and portraits of important Americans. With this theme, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton requested the gingerbread house to be a display of architectural treasures from the Nation’s Capital. Joining the White House in gingerbread form included the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, Mount Vernon, and the Potomac River weaving through each design. Decorations included marzipan swags and fruit topiaries, traditional colonial Christmas decorations, and sugar fireworks to the tops of the four gingerbread buildings. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This is a photograph of details of the 2001 White House Gingerbread House on display in the State Dining Room. The gingerbread house, titled, "Home for the Holidays," was designed to look like the south view of the White House circa 1800. Details included marzipan figurines of President George W. Bush's dog, Barney, with a sign for squirrels that reads "Beware of Barney." This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This photograph features the 1996 White House Gingerbread House on display in the State Dining Room. For the Clinton family's first three years in the White House, White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier created gingerbread houses President Bill Clinton, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, and their cat, Socks. The 1996 gingerbread house was inspired by Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of President and Mrs. Clinton. For Chelsea's gingerbread, Chef Mesnier brought the ballet The Nutcracker to life, a ballet that she performed with the Washington Ballet. The party scene from the first act of The Nutcracker ballet is displayed in icing. A figure in the front wearing a pink dress is a likeness of Chelsea attending the party. Socks is featured in the background on a portrait. Two large gingerbread nutcrackers decorate the outside of the house alongside Santa Clause and his reindeer. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This is a photograph of pastry chefs Susan "Susie" E. Morrison and Marlene Roudebush and another unidentified staff member posing in front of the 2002 White House Gingerbread House in the State Dining Room. That year's gingerbread house featured the South Portico of the White House. The theme that year was a nod to the animals that inhabited the White House. Hand modeled marzipan figures of presidential pets littered the gingerbread house, featuring cats, dogs, the Adams alligator, the Madison macaw, the Lincoln turkey, the Hayes Jersey cow and peacock, the Wilson sheep, the Coolidge goose, the Kennedy pony, and the Reagan goldfish. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This is a photograph of a tray of mini gingerbread houses that decorated a plated dessert of dacquoise meringue. It also joined a sorbet snowman figure. The dessert was crafted by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier and his team of pastry chefs. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This is a photograph of the 2003 White House Gingerbread House on display in the State Dining Room. This was the last gingerbread house that White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier created before his retirement. This house features famous storybook characters decorating the White House, which followed the White House Christmas theme “A Season of Stories.” Chef Mesnier and his staff created marzipan figures of characters from popular children’s stories. This included: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Alice in Wonderland, Humpty Dumpty, Charlotte’s Web, Winnie the Pooh, The Three Little Pigs, The Secret Garden, James and the Giant Peach, Anne of the Green Gables, The Cat in the Hat, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Peter Rabbit, and Rapunzel. Another detail included an open window on the top floor featuring a scene from Goodnight Moon, First Lady Laura Welch Bush’s favorite children’s book. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This is a photograph of marzipan decorations used for the 2003 White House Gingerbread House. The theme was "A Season of Stories," which featured many marzipan figures of famous storybook characters. In the background of this photograph is a marzipan Little Red Riding Hood. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This is a photograph of a tray of mini gingerbread houses that decorated a plated dessert of dacquoise meringue. It also joined a sorbet snowman figure. The dessert was crafted by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier and his team of pastry chefs. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This photograph features the 1999 White House Gingerbread House on display in the State Dining Room. For the last holiday season of the century, the theme at the White House was about honoring the past. At the same time as the building of the gingerbread houses, the White House was preparing for a millennium celebration to be held on December 31, 1999. Americans were invited to decorate the White House with representations of national landmarks and portraits of important Americans. With this theme, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton requested the gingerbread house to be a display of architectural treasures from the Nation’s Capital. Joining the White House in gingerbread form included the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, Mount Vernon, and the Potomac River weaving through each design. Decorations included marzipan swags and fruit topiaries, traditional colonial Christmas decorations, and sugar fireworks to the tops of the four gingerbread buildings. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This photograph features the 1999 White House Gingerbread House on display in the State Dining Room. For the last holiday season of the century, the theme at the White House was about honoring the past. At the same time as the building of the gingerbread houses, the White House was preparing for a millennium celebration to be held on December 31, 1999. Americans were invited to decorate the White House with representations of national landmarks and portraits of important Americans. With this theme, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton requested the gingerbread house to be a display of architectural treasures from the Nation’s Capital. Joining the White House in gingerbread form included the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, Mount Vernon, and the Potomac River weaving through each design. Decorations included marzipan swags and fruit topiaries, traditional colonial Christmas decorations, and sugar fireworks to the tops of the four gingerbread buildings. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This photograph features the 1996 White House Gingerbread House on display in the State Dining Room. For the Clinton family's first three years in the White House, White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier created gingerbread houses President Bill Clinton, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, and their cat, Socks. The 1996 gingerbread house was inspired by Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of President and Mrs. Clinton. For Chelsea's gingerbread, Chef Mesnier brought the ballet The Nutcracker to life, a ballet that she performed with the Washington Ballet. The party scene from the first act of The Nutcracker ballet is displayed in icing. A figure in the front wearing a pink dress is a likeness of Chelsea attending the party. Socks is featured in the background on a portrait. Two large gingerbread nutcrackers decorate the outside of the house alongside Santa Clause and his reindeer. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This photograph features the 1996 White House Gingerbread House on display in the State Dining Room. For the Clinton family's first three years in the White House, White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier created gingerbread houses President Bill Clinton, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, and their cat, Socks. The 1996 gingerbread house was inspired by Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of President and Mrs. Clinton. For Chelsea's gingerbread, Chef Mesnier brought the ballet The Nutcracker to life, a ballet that she performed with the Washington Ballet. The party scene from the first act of The Nutcracker ballet is displayed in icing. A figure in the front wearing a pink dress is a likeness of Chelsea attending the party. Socks is featured in the background on a portrait. Two large gingerbread nutcrackers decorate the outside of the house alongside Santa Clause and his reindeer. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This photograph features the 1999 White House Gingerbread House on display in the State Dining Room. For the last holiday season of the century, the theme at the White House was about honoring the past. At the same time as the building of the gingerbread houses, the White House was preparing for a millennium celebration to be held on December 31, 1999. Americans were invited to decorate the White House with representations of national landmarks and portraits of important Americans. With this theme, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton requested the gingerbread house to be a display of architectural treasures from the Nation’s Capital. Joining the White House in gingerbread form included the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, Mount Vernon, and the Potomac River weaving through each design. Decorations included marzipan swags and fruit topiaries, traditional colonial Christmas decorations, and sugar fireworks to the tops of the four gingerbread buildings. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This photograph features the 1999 White House Gingerbread House on display in the State Dining Room. For the last holiday season of the century, the theme at the White House was about honoring the past. At the same time as the building of the gingerbread houses, the White House was preparing for a millennium celebration to be held on December 31, 1999. Americans were invited to decorate the White House with representations of national landmarks and portraits of important Americans. With this theme, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton requested the gingerbread house to be a display of architectural treasures from the Nation’s Capital. Joining the White House in gingerbread form included the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, Mount Vernon, and the Potomac River weaving through each design. Decorations included marzipan swags and fruit topiaries, traditional colonial Christmas decorations, and sugar fireworks to the tops of the four gingerbread buildings. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This is a photograph of marzipan teddy bears used for the 1992 White House Gingerbread House. This was the first year that White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier oversaw the construction of the gingerbread house, titled the "American Christmas Village." Created during the George Bush administration, it featured five separate gingerbread houses and marzipan likenesses of the first family. One marzipan figure was of First Lady Barbara Bush as Santa's helper holding a tray of cookies. Assisting Chef Mesnier was Marlene Roudebush, known as the Marzipan Queen for her skill in creating marzipan art for gingerbread houses and other desserts. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This is a photograph of a tray of mini gingerbread houses that decorated a plated dessert of dacquoise meringue. It also joined a sorbet snowman figure. The dessert was crafted by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier and his team of pastry chefs. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.

This is a photograph of the 2003 White House Gingerbread House on display in the State Dining Room. This was the last gingerbread house that White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier created before his retirement. This house features famous storybook characters decorating the White House, which followed the White House Christmas theme “A Season of Stories.” Chef Mesnier and his staff created marzipan figures of characters from popular children’s stories. This included: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Alice in Wonderland, Humpty Dumpty, Charlotte’s Web, Winnie the Pooh, The Three Little Pigs, The Secret Garden, James and the Giant Peach, Anne of the Green Gables, The Cat in the Hat, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Peter Rabbit, and Rapunzel. Another detail included an open window on the top floor featuring a scene from Goodnight Moon, First Lady Laura Welch Bush’s favorite children’s book. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1980 to 2004.