The Hotel Hershey Appoints Pastry Chef
Chef Van French Leads Pastry Team at The Hotel Hershey
The Hotel Hershey has named a new Pastry Chef to lead the talented team behind the sweet creations at the resort. Effective February 2021, Chef Van French oversees a team of dedicated pastry professionals that provide unique desserts and chocolate creations to hotel outlets, including the award-winning flagship restaurant The Circular. The pastry team's desserts are also featured throughout all banquet spaces, Trevi 5, Harvest and Chef's Market.
Specializing in high-end wedding cakes and gourmet desserts, French brings 30 years of professional culinary arts experience to his role, sharing his passion for form and flavor in everything he creates. Prior to joining The Hotel Hershey team as Assistant Pastry Chef in 2019, French was co-founder and owner of Van Earl’s Cakes, a premier cake art and dessert boutique in Bucks County, Pa. After graduating from The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia, he also held culinary positions at resorts and restaurants, including The Ritz-Carlton (Philadelphia, Pa.), The Ritz-Carlton (Key Biscayne, Fla.), Fiorello’s Restaurant (New York, N.Y.), Aureole Restaurant (New York, N.Y.) and Trump Taj Mahal (Atlantic City, N.J.).
"While Van's expertise is vast, his love for cakes, art and design is evident in his day to day work. He has a keen eye for detail and inspires all the work around him."
French’s love for cakes, art and design is evident in his work. He is a three-time Food Network competitor, appearing on “Cake Wars” in 2016 as well as “Wedding Cake Championship” and “Holiday Gingerbread Showdown” in 2018. His creative cake designs have also been featured in regional publications, including Philadelphia Wedding magazine, Modern Luxury Weddings Philadelphia magazine, and Philadelphia Style magazine.
The Hotel Hershey's pastry team was previously led by Chef Cher Harris, who was promoted to Corporate Pastry Chef in 2019. As Corporate Pastry Chef, Harris now develops the strategy and vision for pastry operations across Hershey Entertainment & Resorts.
About The Hotel Hershey
The Hotel Hershey is a one-of-a-kind resort complete with 276 guest rooms and 25,000 square feet of meeting and function space. The 1930s hotel is known for its refined elegance, signature service, and abundant amenities. The Hotel Hershey is situated high atop the town of Hershey and features a Mediterranean design, The Spa At The Hotel Hershey, majestic formal gardens, fountains, reflecting pools and terraces. The property is also a member of Historic Hotels of America. Opened in 1934 by Milton S. Hershey, The Circular is The Hotel Hershey’s flagship restaurant. The Circular serves upscale casual cuisine and innovative cocktails in a unique atmosphere. For more information about The Hotel Hershey or the destination of Hershey, Pennsylvania, visit www.TheHotelHershey.com. Join the conservation by following The Hotel Hershey on Facebook, @TheSweetestPlaceOnEarth on Instagram, and @HersheyPA on Twitter.