Ochre's original trompe l'oeil brioche Yule log

The festive end-of-year season is just around the corner! How about something a little out of the ordinary and a little regressive? Ochre, the Michelin-starred restaurant run by chef Baptiste Renouard, unveils an unusual creation. In collaboration with pastry chef Nicolas Innocenti, they unveil their Bûche de Noël , a take on the restaurant's iconic dessert: " Souvenir d'un chocolat chaud ", in the shape of aBrioche.

This dessert, which has become a staple on Ochre's menu, reflects Chef Renouard's childhood and his nostalgia for the breakfasts prepared by his nanny. The original creation consists of a siphon of hot chocolate with semi-salted butter, topped with a cocoa tuile, accompanied by a homemade brioche ice cream, and concealing a small French toast-style brioche. It's this essence of comfort and sharing that inspired the Bûche de Noël.

This year, Baptiste Renouard and Nicolas Innocenti took up a technical challenge to transpose this dessert into a Yule log. Nicolas Innocenti designed a made-to-measure mold to create a trompe-l'œil braided brioche decorated with glittering sugar pearls. The interior of this culinary work of art is an invitation to a voyage of the senses. It reveals a toasted brioche-flavored bavaroise, reminiscent of French toast, and a soft toasted brioche cookie. Between these delights, a 65% Peruvian chocolate mousse enriched with cinnamon, tonka and vanilla awakens the flavors of Christmas. The whole rests on a base of chocolate-hazelnut crunch, enhanced with vanilla caramel.

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Nicolas Innocenti, a pastry virtuoso, worked in prestigious establishments such as Le Meurice, Le Grand Véfour and the Four Seasons George V, before joining Baptiste Renouard at Ochre. Together, they fused refined technique and poetic creativity to create this exclusive log.

The Ochre Signature Log is available in a limited edition at €95, for 10 people. Orders can be placed by e-mail at boutiqueochre@gmail.com or online and picked up at the restaurant at 56, rue du Gué in Rueil Malmaison, or delivered in Paris and the Paris region. Pre-orders are open until December 16, for availability from December 19 to 31.

To get off the beaten track and combine tradition and innovation, here's a creation that's sure to impress. The Bûche de Noël Trompe l'Oeil at Ochre is both visually and tastefully appealing, a gourmet souvenir to share with family and friends.