Monsieur Gérard Bechler, founder and owner of Pâtisserie Bechler, is a Master Pastry Chef.

Gérard is from Colmar in Alsace, France, where he first apprenticed with his brother Jean-Pierre at their father's pastry shop.

After his apprenticeship, Gérard worked as a Pastry Chef in the seaside resort town of Deauville in Normandy. He then was invited to serve as the Master Pastry Chef at the famed Auberge de l'Ill (Michelin three-star), in Illhaeusern, a renowned temple of haute cuisine in Alsace.

Gérard moved to Pacific Grove in 1984 to open Pâtisserie Bechler.

Ever since, he has supplied top restaurants and catering companies with fine pastries, cakes and other desserts. His unique creations are now a tradition at the annual Masters of Food & Wine in Carmel.

Gérard has two children, Pamela and Philippe and lives in nearby Pebble Beach. He is an avid cyclist and is often seen riding his favorite bike on the seashore trails of the beautiful Monterey Peninsula. He also loves to cook for friends in his great kitchen and at his Italian outdoor pizza oven.