The state medical examiner in Fairfax has ruled the 32-year-old Girardot's death a suicide.

"He was a master of his trade, creative, quiet, refined and poised—all qualities that made him unique," wrote Elizabeth Mullins, Ritz general manager and area vice president, in an internal memo forwarded to Young & Hungry. "His dedication, patience and work ethic set him apart. Jerome built strong relationships with his teammates and encouraged everyone to achieve their highest potential. He will be sadly missed."

According to an old Ritz-Carlton bio, Girardot "was born in northeastern France and began his culinary career there at an early age." It continues:

He honed his pastry skills and began to specialize in chocolate while working and training in Aix-en-Provence in southern France. His artistry took him to St. Thomas where he spent two years as first cook and assistant pastry chef at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas. Promoted to pastry chef, he relocated to The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City. In 2003, Chef Jérôme Girardot became pastry chef at The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C.

In addition to desserts after a meal, guests and local residents may enjoy chef Girardot's chocolate confections during the annual Chocolate Decadence Buffet held in the Lobby Lounge throughout February and March. The popular event features more than forty different types of chocolate creations in dark, milk and white flavors, plus tempting chocolate beverages both hot and cold.

Former Ritz-Carlton publicist Dusty M. Lockhart remembers how Girardot used to say that, "Anything you can see or imagine I can create in chocolate." And he could, she says. He created D.C. monuments, Christmas trees, and even 50-inch-tall Easter eggs out of chocolate.

Girardot's talent caught the attention of the Post's Tom Sietsema during a recent re-review of the Westend Bistro by Eric Ripert, which is located inside the Ritz.

"As with the savories at Westend Bistro, desserts seduce the eyes," Sietsema wrote. "Created by Michael Laiskonis of Le Bernardin and executed by Jerome Girardot of the Ritz, the gems include carrot cake, treated to a fondant of goat cheese, and sweet potato tart, garnished with meringue buttons, in elegant pieces: jigsaw puzzles for the discerning sweet tooth. Frozen passion fruit mousse is gently sweet, lightly tart and wholly refreshing, thanks to the inclusion of a grapefruit sorbet laced with fresh rosemary."

Girardot "was very quiet, so he didn't go into the spotlight much," says Lockhart. "He was not about the spotlight. He was about the food."

It's natural to want to understand why someone like James Downs,  co-owner of the beloved Cameron Perks coffee shop in the Alexandria community of Cameron Station, shot his business partner and girlfriend, Dominique Dunford, before turning the gun on himself last week. But I think it's premature to blame the whole tragic incident on the economy. A man who would kill himself, shoot his loved one in the back (twice), and have a 12-hour stand-off with police has to have deeper troubles.

John Arundel, writing for LocalKicks, has pubished a nice narrative of Downs and Dunford's brief time as owners of Cameron Perks. Arundel quotes a number of sources, including Alexandria police, who label the incident a "domestic dispute," which says absolutely nothing, of course. Arundel tried to fill in the holes by talking to friends and neighbors:

But neighbors and friends of Downs told a reporter that the economic stresses of holding together a small business in a tough economy had gotten to him lately, making him edgy and often surly.

Last Thursday at around 10 a.m., the stresses of the deteriorating economy and his failing business got to the 44-year-old entrepreneur.

Downs apparently snapped, shooting his girlfriend and business partner Dominique Dunford in what Alexandria police called a domestic dispute as she tried to escape their townhouse in Cameron Station.

Neighbors of the couple told a reporter that Dunford was shot twice in the back by Downs as she fled to their garage, where she turned the keys of her car and drove straight through the garage door, into the 5000-block of Waple Lane.

Dunford survived the shooting and has been released in good condition from the hospital. The death count, fortunately, was limited to one: Downs himself in an unscripted suicide. Neighbors are quick to point a finger at governments for not helping the middle class more. From Arundel's report:

"It's such an unspeakable tragedy," said a neighbor, who asked not to be identified. "Cameron Perks was such a gift to this community, but I think it was really hard during these economic times for James and Dominique to hold it together, to make it work financially...There is so much aid available to the lower rungs of our society, from food stamps to housing assistance, but for middle class people like James and Dominique, where do you go?"

In the wake of the tragedy, City Councilman Rob Krupicka had scheduled a forum for Cameron Station residents to speak up on how the city can help small businesses which are failing. "We have great businesses in Alexandria, from the west end to the waterfront," Krupicka said. "But as our economy struggles, we clearly need to be proactive."

Maybe the neighbors are right; maybe an infusion of cash would have tamped down Downs' inner demons. But I'd like to reserve judgment on the economy's role in this mess until more facts come out about the man who actually pulled the trigger.

Photo courtesy of Cameron Perks