Kings of Pastry - A pretty sweet movie

Last night I took in Kings of Pastry at the Bytowne Cinema on Rideau Street. It was their 4th and final showing and the place was packed! Fortunately there are two more showings in town. This time at the Mairfair Theatre on Monday, January 31st at 7 pm and Wednesday, February 2nd at 7 pm.

This documentary followed chef Jacquy Pfeiffer, co-founder of Chicago’s French Pastry School, and two other chefs, as they prepared in the final days leading up to the Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF). There, 16 chefs were working to earn the collar awarded to the winners of the MOF - Best Craftsman in France. This event is only held every 4 years. A sugar Olympics of sorts. The competitors put in years of preparaton. It is a high stakes game to work towards total perfection, with everything riding on the sugary, chocolatey, buttery art forms created in those three long days of competition. Some 40 complicated recipes in all. Every move is surgically calculated to ensure that the highest calibre products with the most sophisticated details can be realized in the time allotted. There is no room for error.

The movie had scenes of high drama and suspense as at any moment a delicate creation could collapse into a million pieces with just one wrong move. And that spells g-a-m-e o-v-e-r. As we came to know a number of the chefs, we enjoyed the human and humorous side of their experience as well. An important part of competing internationally is finding your life perspective.

Tempted yet? Take a look at this clip on You Tube. Pure delight.



This movie is a must see for any foodie. Again, mark your calendars for the Mairfair Theatre on Monday, January 31st at 7 pm and Wednesday, February 2nd at 7 pm. Check it out.

Auntie Loo's Treats (Ottawa's first 100% vegan bakery) is planning on bringing lots of baked goods for sampling and for sale to the January 31st screening!