Confectioner Rachel Thebault is founder and head confectioner of TRIBECA TREATS, a specialty bakery in New York City, offering a wide variety of chocolates, cookies, and cakes by custom-order and through her new trendy retail bakery shop. With a focus on intensely flavored edibles, Tribeca Treats satisfies the sweet tooth of the most discerning clients who can't get enough of Rachel’s delectable treats!

Growing up in Washington, D.C. as the oldest of four sisters, Rachel Thebault was heavily influenced by her parents’ love of cooking, world travel and party hosting. Her dad, a partner at a private equity firm, was a strict recipe-follower, while Rachel’s stay-at-home mom cooked from memory—a balance which lead to Rachel’s love of developing and creating her own recipes. Having visited six continents and almost all 50 states by the age of 21, Rachel was also armed with an appreciation for both exotic culture and American tradition, which has helped inspire many of her creations.

Rachel graduated cum laude from Colgate University in 1997 with a degree in economics. The next seven years were spent honing her business skills as an investment banker. That said, Rachel’s foray into the culinary world didn’t happen overnight. It began as a hobby—a love of cooking for and entertaining friends. One evening, she dared to try a recipe for mint truffles, having no experience working with chocolate. Despite that, the truffles were a hit. By the end of the evening, she had two friends offering to pay her to make them for their weddings.

Thus her career in chocolate began, but it was not easy to do between 80-hour work weeks and frequent business travel. So Rachel learned what she could do in steps—what to make in advance and how to pace herself, so that producing 500 truffles in her “off-hours” was not only manageable but easy.

In the Spring of 2004, Rachel officially decided to turn her passion into her career and entered the Institute of Culinary Education’s Pastry Arts and Culinary Management programs, from which she graduated with Highest Honors. She continued designing a menu of chocolate truffles, bon bons and other treats, then added birthday and wedding cakes to her repertoire. The response was overwhelming and as the orders grew, Rachel seized the opportunity to take Tribeca Treats to the next level by opening her retail shop.

Rachel was recently named a 2008 awardee in the Make Mine a Million $ Business Program, sponsored by Count Me In (a not-for-profit women’s entrepreneur organization) and American Express OPEN. After presenting her business in front of a panel of judges and an audience of 500 people, Rachel and Tribeca Treats were selected for the award on the basis of charismatic leadership, unique market positioning and potential for the company to get to $1 million in revenue in the next 18-24 months.

In addition to living in Tribeca and providing locals with an irresistible treats destination, Rachel makes a priority of giving her time and treats to benefit the community. She serves on the Board of Advisors for the TriBeCa Partnership, a subdivision of A.C.E. Programs for the Homeless. In June 2008, Tribeca Treats was honored by ACE with the Community Service award at their annual awards dinner. Additionally, Tribeca Treats regularly participates in events for the NY Board of Education and is a favorite field trip destination for local schools. Rachel has been an invited guest for school projects and has also taught cooking and baking lessons for children ranging from 2-10.

Rachel, her husband and their two daughters continue to bake, entertain and travel, all while calling New York City home.

For additional information on Rachel Thebault & Tribeca Treats, contact SHP/ 212-529-1598.

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