Portrait of a Gourmand - A gourmand is simply, someone who takes pleasure in food and eating. This is a continuing photographic series of gourmands, from all walks of life. There are many gourmands that inspire us in profound ways that make us experience and think about food differently. These portraits essays share their amazing stories.
The food blogging world knows her as Helen, from Tartelette blog- a delicious and stunning blog filled to the brim with gorgeous photographs of pastries and desserts. She’s a professional pastry chef who left the restaurant industry, unsure of what her future held. Helen continued to create her love of pastries on her blog, where she’s a triple threat: creator of beautiful pastries, fantastic photographer and stunning food stylist. The success of her blog has led to a cookbook due out in Fall 2009. Leaving the restaurant industry was a wise decision after all.
We’ve been fans of Helen’s blog for quite a while now, but we were finally fortunate enough to meet Helen through Jaden, of Steamy Kitchen. Jaden invited us to attend a food blog bash in Asheville, NC and Helen was also on Jaden’s list. Lucky for us, because meeting Helen is to love her. She’s insanely funny and witty, which proves why her loyal readers continue to return to her blog. It’s a feast for the eyes and soul. As if we couldn’t already tell by reading her blog, once we were lucky enough to see her live in action, it was insanely obvious that she is one all around bad-ass chef. If you haven’t met her yet, take the time to enjoy her site. She is special.
- Helen’s blog: Tartelette
- Helen’s Twitter: follow @SweetTartelette
If you could have one big finale meal, what would your final feast be?
“Hands down my grandmother traditional Moroccan couscous (the whole dish not just the grain) because it got everyone together, family and friends, all helping and laughing and spending the day getting it ready. Chopping all the vegetables, cutting the mutton, chicken, cooking the couscous and chickpeas, grilling the merguez sausages, and making her harissa extra spicy. Sitting together and passing around all the bowls and plates. A cacophony of sounds and voices and then silence. Bliss. It was the best flipping awesome couscous in the world and we got everybody to agree, shut up and eat!!” – Helen
More on the Portrait of a Gourmand series:
- Shauna James Ahern & Daniel Ahern of Gluten Free Girl and The Chef
- Chef Hasty Torres of Madame Chocolat
- Martin Reed of I Love Blue Sea
- Dan and Jael Rattigan of French Broad Chocolate Lounge
- Amy Scattergood of LA Weekly Food Squid Ink
- Todd Porter of White On Rice Couple
- Helen DuJardin of Tartelette
Follow us on Twitter for Portrait of a Gourmand updates – @WhiteOnRice
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Portrait of a Gourmand: Story of Allison & Son
Portrait of a Gourmand: Michael Procopio
Portrait of a Gourmand- Chef Hasty Torres & Madame Chocolat Video
Portrait of a Gourmand – Martin Reed – i Love Blue Sea Sustainable Seafood
Portrait Of A Gourmand – Dan & Jael – French Broad Chocolates Lounge and Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe
{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
Excellent choice to feature Helen! I agree with every word. She is an inspiration to me in her work with food and appears to be an all around wonderful person. Everything she writes and creates is marked with beauty.
Helens blog is like my foodie bible for beauty. I find myself gasping and saying “look at this” to whoever is in the room when I see one of her gorgeous photographs.
Thanks Helen for all the inspiration you give me and thanks T&D for spotlighting his fabulous blogger.
Fantastic photos of Helen! She is definitely one of my favorite blogs and her photography is just absolutely beautiful! Great choice to have her be the first in your series!
Aw.. i’m in love with Helen.
Can you tell her for me? I’m too shy.
How lovely. Helen is indeed special—and you’ve captured her so wonderfully!
Loving the the main photo with the colorful flowers and the beautiful bokeh. Looking forward to more shots from this series. Thanks again for the kind words on my blog, they made my day!
I’ve been a fan of Helen and her blog for quite sometime now. I love her work and I think that she’s a fabulous person – it comes through the emails we’ve exchanged.
Gorgeous photos! She is one bad-ass chef indeed. Like you I have witnessed her amazing skills in the kitchen and tasted her delicious desserts.
I always look better when I am with you guys
I am looking forward to all the people who will be featured as Gourmands. I know someone who is looking forward to Todd’s feature for sure (hello neighbor!).
Cheers to all gourmands!!
One of my favorite blogs. Great photos. And what a lovely way to create and share your last meal.
She is so pretty! As pretty as her food! I love the photos.
Perfect way to illustrate what a gourmand is – I love this new feature already!
I’ve read Tartelette for a long time now. Her food photography is outstanding and she always has something special to post about. Love you, Helen! (And Todd & Diane, too!)
Lovely post. Helen is gorgeous. Glad you got to meet up.
Fascinating! I love your pictures. Tartelette is one of my favorite blogs to read and drool over, but I love connecting the person to the blog. Hurrah for the new blog feature!
Gorgeous! Love Helen and her blog dearly and you have captured her so perfectly here, beauty personified!!
I’ve been following her and really like her blog. Such a great idea to be featured on your blog. Love your pics
Fantastic choice! I love Helen and her gorgeous blog! Your photos here are gorgeous as well!
Helen is special indeed. I feel very fortunate to have crossed paths with her (and D&T in Asheville)… She’s most worthy of feature-ment!
Cool:-) Tartelette was one of the first food blogs I started reading. Nice to see the face behind the blog.
a fantastic cook, fantastic person. What a perfect choice for your portrait. Beautifully worded, beautifully photographed. I just adore this post!
It’s true! Behind the camera is a lady as lovely as those amazing photos she takes…that is the epitome of the smile with the eyes.
I look forward to Helen’s writing and photographs each week. Her style and creativity are stunning and inspiring. Cheers to you two for this “Portrait of a Gourmand” series—a splendid idea!
I love that you are doing a series like this, so personal. Excellent picture of her with the wine as well! Excited to read more ~
Great capture of Helen ! She’s as lovely and sweet as her pastries !
I have been reading Helen’s blog for a year and a half. I can see that she is a special person just by reading her blog. Honestly I dont think I have missed a day. My only regret is that she doesnt post as much as she used to. That being said I am simply thrilled that she is busy writing her book because now I will have her on my bookshelf when the pastry fancy strikes. I hope to someday meet her.
THis is a real great post. I will be following your series. You guys are incredible people, photographers, and food stylists as well.
Great choice and I too can’t get enough of Helen. Love her blog and another huge fan amongst the many!
Can we pre-order Helen’s book – do we have a title?
Need to rectify that the book will be out for Christmas and not Fall. No pre-order available yet but should be soon.
The title will be “Start With Sugar”.
Thanks for the update on your cookbook Helen! Everyone is really excited about it!
Helen, you are so beautiful! So is ur blog
Lovely to read abt her here 
Wonderful portrait. You picked a fabulous person to highlight and did it beautifully!
Oh now doesn’t the Tartelette blog have a gorgeous face behind it? Can’t wait for her cookbook!
Great idea portraiting a gourmand and a wonderful choice starting with Tartelette. Helen is my heroe!!