11. En pâtisserie, tout est permis

Pastry-making, like the art of gardening, has its own special codes and principles to comply with. Nonetheless, a touch of madness or a happy accident can change a recipe and break free from the shackles, bringing novelty, surprise and renewal in its wake. Ganache, for example, was invented by a clumsy assistant pastry-maker. And wasn’t that famous upside-down apple “tarte tatin” the result of pure experiment? In the adventure of taste, the plant kingdom has much to offer. And how many new varieties have sprung up under the benevolent eye of Lady Luck, bearing their treasures with them?

The pastry-maker dreams of being an architect and the gardener a seeker of savours: the one fascinates the other, and their two worlds call to and inspire each other. Remember the delirious Antonin Carême! Master pastry-maker and architect in sugar, whose dazzling creations were immortalised in the “Pâtissier Pittoresque”, a work that continues to enthrall today’s architects, landscapists and cooks!

Let us, then, step into the gardener and pastry-maker’s laboratory and discover the savours therein – exploring its terroir at the service of gustatory audacity!

 “I was born in 1992, the son of a confectioner and attracted to all forms of artistic expression – I inherited my love of gardens from my grandparents. My initial educational path was leading me on to scientific studies, but I made a radical change in direction after placements with various landscapers. I realised that all my real passions in life came together in the garden – design, creation and outdoor activities. I studied STAV (science and technology in agronomy and living beings), and then went on to study for a BTS in Landscape Development while taking classes at the School of Fine Arts at the same time. It was a placement at the Festival two years ago that motivated me to suggest an idea for a garden. As far as the future is concerned, I plan to put in for the competitive exam to become a DPLG architect.”

 

“I was born in 1992, into a family boasting 3 generations of gardeners and landscapers. I have loved the outdoor life ever since I was a child, and am an ardent fan of such sports as underwater diving and mountain-biking. I started off my secondary education with a second diploma in Applied Arts and continued by studying STAV (science and technology in agronomy and living beings). I now hope to go on to study landscaping by taking an alternation course leading to a BTSA in Landscape Development, following which I envisage taking a professional degree in order to deepen my knowledge of communication techniques – but only time will tell! My personal experience has mostly been acquired during holidays spent in the family business, a placement working in olive groves, and a few ideas and creative activities shared with friends.”