Chef Jacquy Pfeiffer has received the Fine Chocolate Industry Association’s (FCIA) Lifetime Achievement Award. Pfeiffer was selected for his role in co-founding The French Pastry School of Chicago and mentoring future generations of chocolatiers. Pfeiffer received the award during the FCIA’s Recognition of Excellence ceremony on Jan. 19 in San Francisco.
The FCIA is a non-profit organization founded by a group of chocolate professionals to support the art of fine chocolate making by encouraging innovation, quality, and best practices. Every other year, the FCIA recognizes individuals and businesses that have contributed to the chocolate-making community. Other honorees at the ceremony included Santiago Peralta for Outstanding Fine Chocolate Maker; Andal Balu for Innovation in Fine Chocolate Products; and Mary Jo Stojak for Outstanding Service to the Industry. Award recipients are nominated by peers from the chocolate industry and voted on by members of FCIA’s international organization.
In addition to co-founding the French Pastry School with Sebastien Canonne, Pfeiffer has won honors at international competitions like Master of Chocolate, Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie, the National Pastry Championship. He also was featured in the 2009 documentary “Kings of Pastry,” which tracked his experience in the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France and introduced the art of pastry and chocolate to an international audience. Throughout his time as a chef instructor, he has influenced students from around the world, many of whom have gone one to open chocolate shops of their own.