Is that your sweet tooth talking? Residents of Charlottesville, Virginia, wine aficionados, foodies and tourists visiting the Commonwealth are in for a treat. Renowned pastry chef Serge Torres , who has been with the Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard Farm Shop since its March 2003 opening, is adding another post to his resume. In addition to preparing the Farm Shop's very special pastries, chocolates, candies, cookies, jams, preserves and other confections, Serge is now designing delicious delights for FUEL CO ., the downtown restaurant that is also part of Patricia Kluge's wine and food empire. Even prior to FUEL CO.,'s December 2003 opening, Serge had locals and press clamoring to sample his desserts and homemade ice creams.
With over 20 years of experience as a classically trained French pastry chef, chocolatier and baker, known for his spectacular wedding cake creations, Serge is not only a coup for Kluge Estate, but also for Charlottesville. Born in the South of France and raised in the food business, Serge found his passion in the art of pastry. In 1990, he decided to leave Bandol, his hometown, and moved to Paris. He worked at Lucas Carton with esteemed pastry chef François Payard and at L'Auberge du Franc Comtoise, a Three Star Michelin establishment.
Eventually, Serge's enthusiasm for the creation of new sweets took him further away from his native land to the culinary capital of the United States, New York City. After stints as Executive Pastry Chef at top New York restaurants the Castle at Tarrytown a Relais et Chateaux and Le Perigord (as well as Assistant Pastry Chef at Le Cirque under the tutelage of Jacques Torres), Serge made a name for himself as one of the best in the country, as well as on the international food scene. Among his awards, he was acknowledged for his contribution to the James Beard Foundation in 2002, and, while Executive Pastry Chef at the five-star Sheraton Hotel in Bahrain he was the 2000 first-prize winner for Wedding in the Bahrain Exhibition Center and won two medals in Mefex 1998, a culinary competition for Middle Eastern Countries.
He is thrilled with his new position at FUEL CO. and, after living throughout the world, the country life in Virginia. "Having had an international experience and after being in New York for several years, Virginia is a completely different setting and a beautiful place to be." says Serge. "Also I am thrilled about Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard and FUEL's growth. I love to create and there is nothing more exciting than to start a new project and to work with enthusiastic people and to have customers enjoy my work."