Cédric Grolet, Opéra
Sweet-tooth, pastry (and bread-eating) people — rejoice. After weeks of teasing on Instagram, Cédric Grolet — rising culinary star & executive pastry chef at the French five-star hotel, Le Meurice — has (finally) announced the opening date of his very first bakery, in Paris.
Why is this a big deal?
Even if you don’t like sweets, eat bread — or live in Paris — if you do like food, beautiful things, and use Instagram, and you haven’t heard of Cédric Grolet.. Then it’s time to add him to your radar.
Over the years, Grolet’s social media presence has garnered him over 940,000 followers on Instagram (@cedricgrolet) with his spectacular works — and they are pretty awesome, and delicious. :b
And now (drumroll)... he has decided to go out on his own — while keeping his place as Le Meurice pastry chef, after improving the art of the confections, pastries and bread-based items in the swanky kitchens of the Parisian palace.
Doors to his Opera-based, dedicated boulangerie (in the 2eme) will officially welcome Parisians and internationals alike on November 22. *According to Instagram, the chef (Grolet) had “petite soirée entre potes 🥂” just yesterday after working tirelessly all week, ahead of his new store opening cooking, baking and embellishing all the treats that await us on D-Day this Fri(day).
*Not that we’re watching, waiting. Anxiously. Or slightly drooling a la Homer Simpson for donuts. Will there be donuts @cedricgrolet ???! We shall see.
What we already know about this new place set to be unveiled — is that it will offer all the great classics: plump croissants, crunchy baguettes, pain au chocolat, and flans.
In addition, this inaugural Cédric Grolet bakery — which has been set up in the place of Jeffrey Cagnes's former pastry shop, Casse-Noisette — will also treat its visitors to more original creations, such as:
“Bûche gourmande” de Noël (“pour les fêtes de fin d’année”) — a gourmet 'christmas log’: vanilla chestnut biscuit with flavors of brown cream and chestnut; fresh, blackcurrant confit and hazelnut praline, wrapped in a voluptuous cover of vanilla whipped cream;
“Chouquette 100% chocolat” — a type of Choux pastry, usually consisting of a small portion of dough sprinkled with pearl sugar, dipped in chocolate or covered in chocolate chips;
As well as his take on baba rums — “Baba en fleur” ; and, for the first time, “la noix de coco thaï” — the idea here is to have “a very fresh coconut with a tangy, peppery edge”.
Spotted on Instagram, the pictures seem to be tests for viennoiseries and small cakes said to be sold in this bakery, with a concept which is expected to be particularly innovative. One which, apparently, doesn't even exist in France yet.
The Cédric Grolet Opéra bakery will also feature a dining area (tea room of sorts) on the first floor, and all bets are on that this new hotspot will be as successful as the pastry shop at Le Meurice, which Grolet continues to head up.
We've penciled in the official launch date for ourselves, and we’re looking forward to discovering (and tasting!) what it’s all about — so we’ll see you there. :)
Perfect for: Pastry lovers in Paris + anyone with a sweet-tooth who is lucky enough to be moving here, or travelling to the city anytime soon.
What to order: Mmm… decisions, decisions. Don’t know what’s on offer yet. Check back after the opening on Nov 22 — or ask us via Instagram (@insideinkcollective) on the day of — we’ll let you know! ;)
Address: 35 Avenue de l'Opéra, 75002 Paris (Google Maps)
Trading hours: Monday-Saturday: 8.30AM-7PM // Sunday: CLOSED.
Insta: @cedricgroletopera
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cedricgrolet
