Pfeiffer was born and raised in the small village of Marlenheim in the Alsace region in France.

[1][4] He studied food technology at Baldung Grien College in France, where he was named Best Apprentice[5] and received a degree in pastry science.

[5] He then served as executive pastry chef for the Sultan of Brunei, who was at the time the richest man in the world; for the Royal Family in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and at the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong.

[16][17] In the San Francisco Chronicle review, Pfeiffer was singled out as "a wonderful lead character… understated, warm and intelligent.

It includes anecdotes from Pfeiffer about growing up in a bakery family, and lessons learned in his years as an apprentice.