Holiday Dessert Plate

This photograph shows a trio of holiday desserts served atop a plate from the Ronald Reagan state service. At right is a three-layer chocolate cake, topped with a marzipan ribbon to resemble a gift. Immediately left of the cake is a piped rosette of chestnut mousse served atop a drizzle of raspberry sauce. At top is a chocolate Christmas tree decorated with ornaments made of royal icing and a marzipan star. The desserts were likely prepared by White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Mesnier joined the White House Kitchen in 1979 and retired in 2004.