A Festive Workshop at Maitre Choux, King’s Road

A festive Christmas Tree workshop (like a refined Build a Bear #nooffence but with eclairs) at Maitre Choux pâtisserie extraordinaire (the only choux pastry specialist in the world no less) on the King’s Road proved not only an enchanting few hours of creativity for my kids (and peace for the husband and I) but it proved to be a turning point in what has otherwise been a period of relentless arguing between my boys.

What a win.

This is what children need more of: distraction and immersion in baking/cooking and art. Creating, decorating and eating. What could be better?

A visual feast as well as a culinary one, those kids of mine were nourished in every sense of the word and boy did Peter, the husband and I need the breather too.

Being plant-based, I wasn’t able to sample the fare but the children gave them their seal of approval and I hear there might be a vegan eclair in the works coming soon. I hope so.

In the experienced hands (literally) of distinguished top pastry chef Phil Taylor, the boys were introduced to the culinary complexities of eclairs and what it takes to produce such elegant and pristine morsels (3 days of prep and baking for those interested) and how best to decorate them.

Luckily for them, their eclairs appeared Blue Peter style, baked to perfection awaiting their artistic flair. Jars of jewelled embellishments were at the boys disposal and they decorated each vibrant eclair with a myriad of silver baubles, hundreds of thousands, tiny sugared snowflakes and reindeers and edible glitter spray.

Carefully placed by steady-handed Phil on the Christmas Tree stand, they gasped in awe at their masterpiece.

Who could blame them.

If you’re in need of some Christmas magic, Parisienne style, Maitre Choux has it in spades.

These workshops were introduced over the festive period and have proved so popular, they pose the start of more to come.

Engaging, interactive and tasty to boot, this has been the best (and most peaceful) 2 hours we’ve spent as a family in a long time.

It’s a Pinterest-perfect place to be too.

Happy Christmas indeed.

Bon appetit and Joyeux Noel x

Watch the vlog, it’s a cutie.