Kings of Pastry

Kings Of Pastry

Absolutely magical! Fantastic! Delicious! Entertaining!

The only thing better than looking at the fantastic creative pastry would be to sample it. It was mid week and mid day but the TIFF Bell Lightbox auditorium was full. I was so happy to see it. The audience really enjoyed the film. They laughed a lot and when one of the master cakes dropped and was smashed everybody let out a very loud ‘Ahhh”.

The film shows the contest in Lyon France to select the ’Meilleurs Oeuvres de France’, an award for the highest ranking pastry chefs in the competition.

Even the President of France was in attendance. It is prestigious. It is entertaining and it is mouth watering.

16 pastry chefs were selected from many countries to try out for this award. There is not just 1 winner. The jury of judges selects any number that they feel worthy to wear the red and blue collar that signifies the very best of pastry makers.

We meet several of the pastry chefs. A lot of attention is paid to a pastry chef from Chicago. He comes with his family for the competition and I found myself rooting for him all the way. He made spectacular creations and he always had a smile on his face. During the competition he got up at 4:00 am to do preparations. His fiancée was so comforting and encouraging.

There were three days of competition and each day a different challenge. The sugar creations were absolutely amazing. They were intricate. Flowers, lace, people and sky high structures were all cast out of sugar. They were such a work of art. Each chef has to carry the creation to the final table for display. One chef loses most of his structure. He cries. Even several of the judges cried and the audience in the theatre let out a loud collective gasp.

One judge commented that it is like the Olympics. He stated that you have to be your best on that particular day.

On the final day all the chefs display the baking they have created during the three days of competition. Can you just imagine what that those tables looked like? 16 tables were filled with all types of pastries. It was a feast for the eyes and I was licking my lips.

This is a most delicious film.