PEAKLIFE

Meanwhile, Delhi crowd fans of the French patisserie giant, L’Opera, are happy to sample both the fares.

Learning to find solace in little things isn’t an easy feat, but food, by default, is a big part of the list that makes us feel succoured and connected. It’s wholesome, nostalgic, and soul-salving. Whether it’s dalgona or baklava or madeleines, stuck at home, we find freedom in all things sweet and timeless.

Delhi’s newest Monique Patisserie in Chattarpur brings back the aromatic whiff of the French countryside to our homes this summer. Launched recently by Shivan Gupta, founder and creative director of luxury events space Amaara Farms in Delhi, Monique Patisserie is one place you need to bookmark to satiate your sweet tooth cravings.

Many will find Gupta’s journey to Monique Patisserie extremely relatable and charming. It was a summer when Gupta spent his time visiting quaint, family-run patisseries which offered some of the most delectable sweet treats that he thought of bringing the same Parisian zeitgeist to Delhi. And as fate would have it, he crossed paths with Maxime Montay, whose family runs a classic French bakery in the Côte d’Azur belt of the famed French Riviera.

Engineering a connection between France and India, Gupta and Montay embarked on a mission to deliver the most coveted traditional French desserts in the city.

“At the core of Monique Patisserie is the celebration of the traditional pastry and dessert-making art of France that the whole world has come to love and devour. We hope to bring you a slice of this authentic experience in the capital,” says founder Shivan Gupta.

From flavoursome macarons (the best in the country) to decadent tarts and cakes, patrons can indulge in a thoughtfully curated menu of artisanal desserts by Chef Maxime, crafted using the choicest seasonal ingredients.

The curation includes signatures such as Le Paris-Brest, a traditional choux pastry filled with delectable almond and hazelnut praline, La Tarte Tropézienne, a brioche packed with light vanilla cream and poached pears, and Le Saint Honoré, an effervescent pastry made using the most meticulous techniques in a French patisserie. Its Chantilly cream, vanilla cream, and caramel glazed choux offer the tantalising taste unique to French desserts.

Apart from the classics, Chef Maxime infuses quality local seasonal fruits into the menu—this summer’s special is Le Manguier, a pastry cake composed of financier biscuit, mangoes, and intense vanilla cream.

Each creation at Monique Patisserie pays homage to Chef Maxime’s grandmother, after whom the patisserie is named, and whose heirloom recipes serve as an inspiration to the chef. Snippets of Parisian history are folded into the pastry at Monique with traditional baking techniques and packaged neatly for its new Indian audience.

For now, given the current scenario, and in keeping with government rules and regulations, the shop around-the-corner will function in a delivery-only format, until further notice. With celebration at its heart, all desserts on the extensive menu come with recommended alcoholic and non-alcoholic pairings for a finer food experience making them ideal for dinner table desserts and gifting.