Is it possible to get that weak in the knees feeling, or fall in love at first sight when you see expertly-presented and artistically-designed desserts? You may find it hard to believe that this feeling exists. However, it is quite possible that you are yet to see one of chef Khalil Ali's chocolate creations. This Chaguanas-based patissier (pastry) chef has a growing clientele, aided through his popular Facebook group that highlights his business, Pe`che Patisserie.
His Facebook group boasts of close to 4,600 members. His photos are tempting and equally enticing, and they attract a vast number of comments.
At 29, Ali is a successful entrepreneur and chef de patisserie et cuisine, with a thriving patisserie shop that features desserts, chocolate, cuisine and boulangerie (French breads). Ali studied at Le Cordon Bleu, a culinary institute in the United States, as well as two other institutes. He said food essentially chose him, "plus I didn't fit into anything else." He said his interest in food piqued when he was around nine years old, and he got an encyclopaedia set which contained a section on baking. "The first thing I made was cheese sticks, and it came out okay. I enjoyed that. Since then, I dabbled in everything, and I found my passion in food," Ali said. Chef, as he is called by his employees, has a lengthy resum� that lists his previous employers, including a tenure at GILT, which is a two-star Michelin Restaurant at the New York Palace Hotel, as a Stagier de Patisserie. He worked with David Carmichael, one of the top ten pastry chefs in the US.
Ali also trained under Mielleurs Ouviers de France (one of the best craftsmen of France) and other competition chefs. Prominent Port-of-Spain-based attorney, Ravi Rajcoomar, stopped by to purchase one of Ali's variety boxes. He said he heard about Ali from a friend and could not wait to indulge. Jan Hardy, of Apadoca's Wine Shop, in Chaguaramas, said there was only one way to describe Ali's desserts: "Heaven."
She had to literally sit to sample the gateau opera cake. "It is simply delicious. There are subtle flavours melted together, yet you can tell each one. It was a heavenly experience," she gushed. During the interview he had to attend to clients who could not get enough of his sinfully sweet desserts, which he creates from scratch, using fresh ingredients, including vanilla beans and fruits. For his breads, Ali uses a 200-year-old Levain (a German sour dough culture) which he grows.
Chef Khalil Ali, right, offers attorney Ravi Rajcoomar his desserts.
He also has an orchard at the back of his home, with fruit trees and a herb garden, where he plucks fresh seasonings such as lavender and rosemary, which he uses in his creations. However, his main passion is his chocolate creations, which he uses imported coverture chocolate to create. Ali, who is a chef complet (complete chef), is proficient in cuisine, patisserie (pastry) boulangerie and garde manger (salads, food carvings, etc.) While the praise for his talent pours in, Ali remains grounded. He said what he does is not for kudos. It is who he is; it is his passion. "I like it all, cuisine, cakes, pastries. I like to make things that I like to eat, that I would eat. You know, sometimes you would get a craving and from that craving that's how I would come up with different flavours and how I want to present it on a plate for me."
His creations spark the imagination of his customers and, he said: "I would stay up at night and think about these things and come up with ideas for my cakes. I don't know if I can be a master of all things, cakes, pastry, but I enjoy all aspects of food." Ali admitted his creations were pricey. "My creations are difficult to make. It takes time.You pay for quality and you get that with my cakes. "I like being creative and I like working with my hands. I will like to believe there is nothing I can't do with regards to food. "I am proud of what I have done. I make what I feel like making. I have a standard to maintain, one that my customers expect. "This is a standard and quality that comes with a price." If you are looking for that unique design or want to experience something out of this world, just try one of Ali's astronomical offerings.
