Pastry chef Jean François Houdré has been delighting and amazing guests at tony Newport Beach, California's Sutton Place Hotel for over 8 years. The hotel is perhaps one of Newport Beach's best kept secrets, offering guests unparelled levels of service, not to mention some of the best cuisine in Orange County, and a wonderful, intimate jazz music venue on the weekends. Jean François' signature desserts, works of art for the eyes as much as the tastebuds, are highpoints in a meal filled with peaks. The hotel's Accents Restaurant frequently plays host to locals as well as tourists, a sure testimony to its year round quality. But Houdré, and in fact, the Sutton Place Hotel in general, really shines during holidays. The Sutton Place regularly plans special holiday promotions and events, and Houdré is usually right in the middle of them. Like the time he built a Christmas Gingerbread scene so spectacular, so massive, it wouldn't fit through the kitchen doors! Each Easter, the chef produces hand made, hand painted, chocolate Easter Eggs. In France, where Jean François trained at the famous Lenotre Pastry School in Paris, there would be competitions for those who could make the finest eggs. But despite his classical training, Jean François credits his father, a Bordeaux pastry chef and amatuer sculptor, as his inspiration. If you happen to be in Newport Beach around Easter, you can order one of Jean François' spectacular eggs to take home. Call the Sutton Place at 949-476-2001 to reserve yours. Otherwise, check out this feature, as chef Houdré graciously shares with us his secrets of making exquisite chocolate Easter eggs. Don't worry if you can't exactly duplicate them at home, I can't either. Although it's fascintaing to see how they're made, and it would be fun to try. What's the worse that can happen? You get to eat your mistakes! Follow this link for detailed instruction for making Chocolate Easter Eggs! Get the molds you need to make your very own Exquisite Chocolate Easter Eggs. NOTE: Since this article was written, Jean François Houdré has moved to San Francisco. He now serves as pastry chef for the Westin St. Francis Hotel where he delights with guests with his innovative creations like the Gingerbread Castle pictured at right.