French pastry chef Yann Couvreur opens debut Riyadh store in Centria Mall
A new neighbourhood pâtisserie serving cakes worthy of royalty…
You may not know it (yet), but world-famous Parisian pastry chef Yann Couvreur – best known for his clever riffs on classic pastries and his pet fox – has opened his eponymous pâtisserie in Riyadh.
Located on the ground floor of Centria Mall, Yann Couvreur Pâtisserie is the first branch to be opened in Saudi Arabia.
Known as the Prince of Pastry, Couvreur is an expert in combining textures and flavours without compromising on seasonal, natural, fresh ingredients. Alongside the likes of Claire Damon, Cedric Grolet, and Mori Yoshida, as well as the long-time leaders Claire Heitzler, Pierre Hermé, and Jacques Genin, he is currently at the forefront of Paris’ legendary patisserie ecosystem.
What can we expect from Yann Couvreur Pâtisserie in Riyadh?
The place is chic, modern and fresh, leaving the pastries to do the talking. It features a chevron wood façade and one long case filled with beautiful tarts, eclairs, and cakes.
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It has an artisanal atmosphere, as one would expect from being in a high-end shopping centre, and yet it’s warm and welcoming where people can come for a tasty treat.
It’s the sort of place you would want to stay, sit at the table, settle comfortably for a coffee, or enjoy cakes you might imagine on Marie Antoinette’s afternoon tea table.
Bringing haute couture pâtisserie to the masses
Among Couvreur’s refined, elegant pastries, viennoiseries, and cakes, the choice is difficult. His offer at Centria Mall includes a coconut caramel éclair (SAR39), Isatis tart with roasted pecans, vanilla whipped ganache, pecan praline, and vanilla caramel (SAR49), and the Paris Brest (SAR49).
Foxes are Couvreur’s symbol, and they can be found throughout his creations. An example is one of his signatures, the Merveille (SAR49), a chocolate shell made with meringue, salted praline butter and chocolate mousse. We don’t know about you, but we’re crazy about it.
Those who are pastry obsessed, Couvreur groupies who have seen his work on Instagram, or are just lucky enough to taste these pastries know that they are as pretty as they are tasty. So, for a little snack between shops, Yann Couvreur Pâtisserie at Centria Mall is the place to satisfy a sweet craving or sip a hot drink (we recommend the matcha latte).
Needless to say, the mint green and gold fox-adorned packaging is just as adorable as the cakes within.
Yann Couvreur Pâtisserie, Centria Mall, Olaya Street, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12241, daily 10am to 10pm. @yanncouvreur_ksa
Images: Social