There’s a new Parisian patisserie in Delhi that’ll make you indulge like Marie Antoinette

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. Open for delivery and takeaway from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm in Delhi NCR, this Parisian patisserie packs authentic heirloom recipes handed down through generations to the refined Indian palate.

Many Francophiles 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 Gupta.

Considering the current situation in the city, he also underlines how lockdown is probably the perfect time to launch the patisserie as it triggers nostalgia and memories of a foreign land. ”During the first lockdown, I got enough time to conceptualise Monique. I believe there couldn’t be a better time than this to launch our patisserie when we all are locked-in and can’t travel overseas but still craving food from around the world that reminds us of summer travels. Monique aims to satiate this craving with French delicacies.”

The menu features specialities 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; Le Saint Honoré, an effervescent pastry made using the most meticulous techniques. Its Chantilly cream, vanilla cream and caramel glazed choux offer the tantalising taste unique to French desserts. Apart from the classics, chef Montay 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.

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.

All images: Courtesy Monique Patisserie