Cedric Grolet Review

I visited Cedric Grolet’s store in London and Paris and there was a clear favorite. 

Cedric Grolet is a renowned French pastry chef, widely recognized for his innovative and artistic approach to modern pastry. He developed a passion for baking at an early age and pursued his culinary education at the prestigious École Nationale Supérieure de la Pâtisserie.

Grolet gained fame for his hyper-realistic fruit-shaped desserts, which showcase his exceptional skill in combining aesthetics with flavors. His signature creations include lifelike pastries that resemble apples, lemons, and hazelnuts, crafted with precise techniques and delicate details. His work is a fusion of classic French pastry traditions and contemporary artistry.

He rose to prominence as the Executive Pastry Chef at Le Meurice in Paris, where he refined his craft under the guidance of celebrated chefs. In 2018, he opened his own boutique, Cedric Grolet Opéra, in Paris, drawing pastry lovers from around the world.

Grolet has received numerous accolades, including the title of Best Pastry Chef in the World by Les Grandes Tables du Monde in 2018. He has also authored bestselling books that highlight his techniques and philosophy in pastry-making.

Through his dedication to perfection, innovation, and creativity, Cedric Grolet continues to influence the pastry world, inspiring both professionals and enthusiasts alike.

I visited both of these shops on a trip I was taking all across Europe and this was by far what I was most excited about. I had followed Cedric Grolet for a while at this point and had fallen in love with his creations, particularly with his hyper realistic creations that look like fruit and nuts. If you have seen any of Grolet’s content you will also know that he is also famous for his croissants and other cafe like pastries. 

I went to the Paris location first and it’s very important to know that there are more than one storefront locations for Cedric Grolet and each place has different pastries. If you are planning on going to all the stores, they are all within walking distance of each other. The three locations are the Opera, the Cafe, and the Meurice. The Opera

has a lot of the “flower” creations, the Cafe has pastries like croissants and his large cookie pizzas, and the Meurice has the hyper realistic creations. Each location has an option for take away (you have to wait in line and then order what is available in person) and click and collect (you pre-order and pick up later). I would recommend the click and collect option because with takeaway you are never guaranteed anything and the lines are usually pretty long. Click and Collect does guarantee you something because you order it ahead of time, however the menu does change so you will need to watch the Cedric Grolet website to check items and available bookings. I had to book my order a couple months in advance and the more popular items will sell out. 

The London location only has one storefront but that also means there are less options to choose from compared to Paris. Also, in terms of wait lines and popularity, the London location is less popular than Paris and you would have an easier time just walking in to order something. 

Now to the goodies. I got a couple different things in London and in Paris. In Paris I got the strawberry, the lime, the passion fruit, the tonka bean, and the pistachio cookie. In London I got the coconut flour, the pear, and a croissant. The good majority of his desserts are layered with multiple elements including creams, fruit fillings, and edible decorations.

Now for the reviews!

I had pre ordered all of these except for the croissant in London. When I went to pick up my pear and coconut flour they happened to have some croissants left and because they are so popular I had to get one. But, unfortunately I think the croissant is definitely over

hyped. Don’t get me wrong, it was still a great croissant. However, there are much better croissants all around Paris (and probably cheaper too). It just didn’t have any star quality to it, like his other desserts. On the other hand, the hype for his other creations is very deserving! I was truly impressed with every one of his fruit desserts and would 100% go back if given the chance. The chocolate shell on the outside was super thin which gave it a nice bit of snap and then you hit the soft and almost neutral tasting cream, which perfectly sets up the fruit fillings that packed a punch of flavor. I would definitely recommend the hyper realistic desserts, but the coconut flower and the pistachio cookie were MUST TRYS! The coconut flower was packed with flavor and had an incredible mouthfeel. There were crunchy and creamy elements, and I could

not get enough of it. I can confidently say that the pistachio cookie is the best thing I’ve ever eaten. Loving pistachio flavor probably has a little to do with it, but this isn’t like your typical cookie. It had a pistachio cookie base and then it was topped with a pistachio praline, caramel, and candied pistachios. 

The desserts are on the pricier side (the items I got were around $18-$25 USD) but I think they are worth the price. If you take into consideration all the elements, ingredients, and the work put into each dessert the price does reflect that fairly. If you are someone who values good quality food and doesn’t have a problem paying for that, then I think Cedric Grolet should definitely be on your list of things to check out.

The flavors, the beautiful cross sections, and the whole experience is one that I would go back for!