Pros ? Download our app
PASTRY COURSES

Modern Patisserie and Confections with Chef Gonzo (República del Cacao)

July 8-10, 2025 - 3 days

Gonzo Jiménez

North America Corporate Pastry Chef, República del Cacao

@chef.gonzo
$ 1420 $ 994
30% discount off all classes for north american cercle v members
Interested in participating in the class Have questions ? Email ecolebrooklyn@valrhona.com

Join us for a unique culinary journey in this class that focuses on chocolate and pastry techniques. Dive into a world of decadent flavors as we explore a delightful fusion of classic American favorites and vibrant Latin-inspired tastes and aromas. Under the guidance of República del Cacao Corporate Pastry Chef Chef Gonzo Jiménez, students will work on mastering the art of creating elegant petit gateaux, sumptuous chocolate confections and indulgent cookies. Elevate your creations with modern presentation styles, including the use of stencils, airbrushing techniques and molds. Unleash your creativity in this immersive and hands-on class.

This class is ideal for pastry chefs looking to deepen their chocolate expertise and for chocolatiers eager to expand their pastry repertoire. Designed for intermediate to advanced students, this course requires a solid foundation in pastry and chocolate techniques. Please note that this class is not suitable for beginners or home bakers.

OBJECTIVES:

  • Learn to reinterpret classic flavor profiles.
  • Showcase modern presentations, suitable for businesses ranging from pastry shops, restaurants and chocolate shops.
  • Learn airbrushing and stencil techniques, using simple vector logos and adding a “wow factor” to desserts.
  • Learn the basics and fundaments of chocolate and pastry, including an in-depth exploration of the behavior of ingredients and the importance of quality components in each dessert and confection.

Schedule:

8:30am-9:00am: Arrival & light breakfast

9:00am – 12:30pm: Class

12:30-1:30pm: Lunch

1:30-5:00pm: Class

These times are approximations and may vary. Please note that class may go over the allotted time to cover all the class material. As a result, we do not recommend booking travel that will require you to leave class at 5pm or earlier. Please keep this in mind when arranging your travel.

What’s included in the class?

  • A recipe book with all recipes and relevant methods or techniques (varies based on class theme).
  • A diploma that certifies you have successfully completed the course.
  • Light breakfast and catered lunch each day.
  • Cocktail hour after first day of class.

Chef Referral Program

Refer a friend for a l’École Valrhona Brooklyn 2025 professional class and receive a $200 credit to use towards a 2025 class, your friend will also receive a $200 credit to use towards the class they sign up for!

Learn More

Biography

Chef Gonzo Jiménez was born in Northern Argentina, raised in a Spanish household surrounded by good food and long family meals. At the age of 17, he started working in restaurants and fell in love with the culinary world. He enrolled in pastry and culinary school in Buenos Aires. After completing his studies, he traveled around the country working for 5 star hotels and celebrity chefs. ​

 From 2009 to 2013, Chef Gonzo worked for large hotels in the United States including the St. Julien in Boulder, CO and The Hyatt Corporation in New Orleans and New York. Most notable amongst his various accomplishments throughout this period was the launch of his personal line of chocolates, providing different hotels throughout Manhattan, NY with high end confections. ​

 In 2013, he moved back to South America to work at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Santiago de Chile. Soon after he accepted a highly coveted position with Barry Callebaut as a Corporate Chef for the South American Region and Director of the Chocolate Academy in Chile. ​

Current Netflix show Bakesquad has launched Chef Gonzo’s career into a different dimension, showcasing his chocolate art skills globally and turning him into a celebrity chef. ​

Chef Gonzo is República del Cacao’s Corporate Pastry Chef for the United States and North America. He travels North America representing the brand by teaching classes, giving demos, and providing technical assistance to all its customers. ​

If you cancel 45 days or more prior to the first day of class, you will be completely refunded. If you cancel within 45 days you will receive a 50% refund or 100% class credit to be used within a year of the cancellation date. If you cancel within one week of the class you will receive a 50% class credit to be used within one year of the cancelation date. 

We do our best to avoid canceling or rescheduling classes, however, please be aware that classes are subject to change due to conflicts, instructor illness, travel issues, etc. We will contact you immediately in case of any date changes or course cancellations. In the case a class is rescheduled or canceled we offer you the choice of a full refund or a class credit to be used within one year of the cancelation date. 

As Valrhona is not responsible for your accommodations we recommend booking refundable forms of transportation and accommodations, so if an unforeseen change occurs you will not be charged. 

*Offer cannot be combined with any additional discounts. Only eligible for classes taught in the United States.*

Contact us at ecolebrooklyn@valrhona.com for more details!

See available discounts here.