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Award-winning pastry Chef Nicolas Lambert will be serving up some of his finest French creations this week at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, starting with a master class this evening, where he will share some of his sweetest secrets with eager bakers from across the kingdom.
Chef Nicolas’ patisserie passion started at the age of two alongside his twin brother Julien, at his parents’ bakery amidst the Vosges Mountains of Épinal, France. To this day, his parents bake croissants there in the morning as the boys each head up pastry kitchens, Julien in France and Nicolas at the Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg, Russia.
Nicolas added: “My twin brother, Julien, and I were actually born in my parents’ bakery. Julien is also in fact the head pastry chef - he just opened his shop in France and I’m incredibly proud of him! For us, pastry artistry has become second nature to us and is our way of life. As we are spread out across the world, we unfortunately don’t have the chance to see one another too often, but when we do it’s always a wonderful family gathering.”
Hailing from a family of boulangers and patissiers, Chef Nicolas got his degree as a chocolatier and worked throughout France, from Epinal to Cannes. But the moment he moved to Hong Kong, he already had 10 years of professional experience.
Caprice Restaurant, which had just been featured in the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list, became the first restaurant in Lambert’s career. In 2018, after his 30th birthday, Nicolas became Asia’s Best Pastry Chef according to The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
He added: “My proudest achievement looking back was to be the winner of the National Festival of Croquembouches in France at only 21 years old. I have had the chance to work and learn from outstanding and talented chefs throughout my career (both from a personal and professional standpoint) and I consider this an extremely important foundation of my success - I believe we should always strive to learn from those around us.”
Chef Nicolas is going to be in Bahrain from today until November 30. With an intuitive sense for pastry creation and vast experience working with world-acclaimed French pastry chefs such as Christophe Michalak at the Hotel Plaza Athénée in Paris and with Jerome De Oliveira, just to name a few, Chef Nicolas is bringing his unique flair to Bay View Lounge’s afternoon tea experience.
Today’s master class includes recipes to take home and a sit-down gathering with the chef himself to taste all his wonderful creations.
He noted: “My Masterclass will feature one of my favourite recipes: chocolate mousse which has a delightful combination of chocolate and hazelnut; I can never resist the combination of these flavours paired together! I have decided to teach a dish that would be easy to make at home and is very much loved by children and adults of all ages. There is absolutely no need for prior experience, as long as they have a passion for pastries and all things sweet!”
As for what tickles his own sweet tooth, he was quick and unhesitant to remark: “I can easily say a Fraisier in summer with quality fresh strawberry gariguette and delicious vanilla cream to compliment it with.
“And the classic Paris-Brest dessert in the winter season because like all French people I am addicted to Pâte à Choux and I love caramelized dried fruits more than anything. It makes me so crazy, when I start I can’t stop eating it!”
The Masterclass runs this afternoon from 3pm to 4:30pm and is priced at BD25net per person. The afternoon tea, by Chef Nicolas, runs from today until November 30 from noon until 9pm and is priced at BD26.5net for two guests including tea, pastries, sandwiches, and scones served with homemade jam and cream and BD35 inclusive of an additional glass of sparkling juice. To make a reservation, call 17115500.
