Meet Chef Jacques torres

Jacques Torres is the leading authority on all things chocolate and one of the most popular chefs in the world. He is the co-host of the hugely successful Netflix show “Nailed It!” and the proprietor of Jacques Torres Chocolate.

Jacques began his career as a pastry chef and was awarded the prestigious M.O.F. medal in Pastry in 1986, still to this day he is the youngest pastry chef in history to earn the distinction. In 1988, he became the Executive Pastry Chef at New York City’s most famous and legendary restaurant, Le Cirque. For 11 years, Jacques served presidents, kings, and celebrities in his everyday work at the iconic restaurant.

In 2000, Jacques fulfilled his American dream of owning his own business with the opening of his first Jacques Torres Chocolate in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Jacques was a pioneer-the first artisan chocolatier in New York City to make his own chocolate, starting with cocoa beans. Jacques prides himself on specializing in fresh, hand-crafted chocolates using premium ingredients free of preservatives and artificial flavors.

Jacques and his chocolate became an instant success in New York as Mr. Chocolate™ and quickly attracted fans from all over the country. The demand for his confections grew rapidly, and Jacques has since opened several more retail stores throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, built a state-of-the-art 40,000 square foot chocolate manufacturing plant, and launched a robust online store, Mrchocolate.com.

Jacques has long been a popular TV host. During his time at Le Cirque, Jacques released a 52 episode Public Television series, Dessert Circus with Jacques Torres, along with two companion cookbooks, Dessert Circus: Extraordinary Desserts You Can Make At Home (William Morrow), and Dessert Circus At Home (William Morrow). He also hosted a television series, Chocolate with Jacques Torres, on the Food Network for three years. In 2008, he released his third cookbook, A Year in Chocolate (Stewart, Tabori and Chang). In March 2018, Netflix released worldwide to 190 countries a baking competition show, “Nailed It!” which Jacques is the featured Head Judge on the internationally successful series. The show has been nominated for four Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Competition Program. In November 2025, The Food Network released their new series Sweet Empire: Winter Wars, in which Jacques is the judge of this holiday baking competition show.

Jacques is the author of three cookbooks: Dessert Circus: Extraordinary Desserts You Can Make At Home (William Morrow), Dessert Circus At Home (William Morrow), and A Year in Chocolate (Abrams). He has received numerous awards over the years, including The James Beard Pastry Chef of the Year Award in 1994 and The James Beard Who’s Who of American Food & Beverage Award in 2003. In 2016, he was inducted in the Chocolate Hall of Fame by Dessert Professional Magazine as well as given the highest honor in France, The Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur. Additionally, he was a culinary instructor for nearly thirty years and served as the Dean of Pastry Arts at the award-winning International Culinary Center until its closure in 2020.

Jacques generously donates his products and time to many local and national charity organizations including The Jacques Pepin Foundation, Citymeals-on-Wheels, Wellness in the Schools, Sloan Kettering Pediatric Hospital, March of Dimes, Make a Wish Foundation, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and numerous charity driven food festivals.

He lives in New York City, with his wife and two children.