” The bakery has become a highly sophisticated art.” Thierry Teyssier
Looking for that taste of Paris in Abu Dhabi? Craving delicious French pastries and delicacies in a stylish setting? Parisian favourite La Pâtisserie des Rêves, which has opened in the high-end Tryano store located in Yas Mall, will be the answer to all your sweet dreams.
Seven years ago contemporary French pastry chef Philippe Conticini and Thierry Teyssier, founder of Lever de Rideau and Maisons des Rêves joined forces through their mutual love of pastries to create La Pâtisserie des Rêves. Its popularity in the French capital is well documented, the Abu Dhabi location is part of the brand’s global expansion that has already seen it open branches in London and Japan with further rapid worldwide growth planned, including an outlet at Dubai’s City walk sometime this year.
The Salade Halloumi with figs, strawberries, toasted pistachio and arugula salad topped with a pomegranate balsamic dressing was divine. The Salade d’ete was equally as good combining chunks of watermelon with feta cheese, kiwi, toasted pistachio, mixed salad and a balsamic reduction, there is something so good about combining cheese with fruit and fresh salad leaves. Our main course selections included Hamour et riz au safran (marinated hamour fillet with grilled zucchini, saffron rice and charmoula sauce), Linguini Champignons et huile de truffe (pasta with sauteed wild mushrooms, artichokes, wild rocket served with parmesan cream and truffle oil) and the teenagers choice of Tartine Salmon and Ricotta (Atlantic smoked salmon with lemon infused cream cheese, capers, chives and rocket served with a mixed green salad).
The piece de resistance was the dessert course, well it is a French patisserie after all! A range of the signature cakes and pastries were served in their entirety before, thankfully being divided into smaller more manageable portions. The circular Paris-Brest seemed to be a firm favourite, a choux pastry with frothy praline cream and a rich liquid praline centre, the impressive Saint-Honoré, one of the greatest Pâtisserie des Rêves classics had flaky pastry, crunch and rich caramel choux pastry, a combination of different tastes and textures.
So what makes La Pâtisserie des Rêves different to other brands and cafe concepts? Conticini and Teyssier have taken their inspiration from traditional much-loved French pastries and reworked them with a modern twist. Conticini is still at the helm of creative development, producing signature style cakes and pastries such as the Paris-Brest, Saint-Honore and the indulgent chocolate covered eclairs, while Teyssier is the business brains of the operation. All the serving staff were very knowledgeable and attentive as you would expect at a launch, attention to detail is key with this concept and even the refreshing towelettes have their own unique signature perfume created for the brand.
La Pâtisserie Des Rêves
Location: Level 1, Tryano Store, Yas Mall
Opening: Daily from 10am-10pm
Website: lapatisseriedesreves.com/en/
I was invited to attend this event, all views are my own. Unless otherwise stated, all views and photos on this page © Jo Brett 2016. All rights reserved.