JimmyLeclerc’sinterest in the culinary world began at an early age. As a child, he would accompany his father who appreciated fine cuisine and desserts on trips to Paris, where the two would venture the city in search of a new treat to indulge in. These fond memories became the stepping-stone for his career as a pastry chef, igniting Jimmy’s passion for baking.
Years later Jimmy obtained his CAP-BEP as a baker at CIFAM, studying in Nantes, a region of France from 1998 to 2000. Continuing his education at CIFAM, he obtained his CAP in pastry in 2002, learning the art of pastry while studying at Pastry Chatellierin La Baule, France. Ready to explore the world, Jimmy left France and traveled to Valencia Spain where he became the Deputy French Pastry Chef at Lambert from 2002 till 2005.
After enjoying his residency in Spain, Jimmy embarked on a travel tour to Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Uruguay, soaking up the culinary wonders of South America for one year where he would serve as a pastry chef at " La Bourgogne" , a RelaisChateau estate in Punta del Este, Uruguay during this time. Returning to Spain in 2006, Jimmy accepted a position atAnmari'sfrenchrestaurant, in the coastal town of Moraira where he continued to practice the French art of pastry, forging his classic training with the new flavors and recipes from his travels.
In 2007 Jimmy accepted a position as a chef at Ladurée Paris, fulfilling a childhood dream, returning to his favorite patisserie that he would visit with his father. Living out this dream, he became, after three years in Ladurée Paris, a deputy head at Ladurée International, traveling to differentLadurée locations in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon, Monaco, Japan, and Dubaïto Jimmy served as the opening chef enlisted to bring the expertise and know of Ladurée to the rest of the world. In 2015 Jimmy embarked to New York to serve as the Executive Pastry Chef of Ladurée US for the opening of the first Ladurée tea salon and restaurant in SoHo. Today, Jimmy continues his passion for baking with a sense of nostalgia, reliving his childhood memories of visiting Ladurée which he now gets to call home.