We tested the Best Pastry Shop in Yvelines 2024

Having settled in Méré just over a year ago, Daniel Agil, an engineer by trade, is now delighting gourmets in the Yvelines region with his Boulangerie-Pâtisserie Gare Ô Pains. He quickly realized that he wanted to work with his hands, and turned to pastry-making, a field he considers more scientific in approach. Originally from Toulouse, he started out in a small local patisserie before moving to Paris for further training.

One of Daniel's strengths lies in his mastery of French pastry classics, while adding his own personal touch. For the competition, his Paris-Brest was particularly noted for its homemade praline, a detail that he believes made all the difference. As for his apple tart, he relied on a meticulous presentation using an apple-shaped cookie cutter and a homemade compote reminiscent of the unique taste of a tarte tatin.

This new award is a source of pride for his employer, Amilton dos Santos, owner of the bakery Gare Ô Pains. The latter, also a competitor in the "employer" category, took second place, confirming the quality of the products offered in their establishment. Thanks to these distinctions, Gare O Pain has become an essential address in the Yvelines region, with several prizes up its sleeve, including 4th place for the best traditional baguette and croissant.

To be at the top of his game, Daniel Agil hasn't been twiddling his thumbs. After training with renowned pastry chef Carl Marletti in Paris, he continued his apprenticeship for 2 years at Lenôtre in Plaisir, working alongside several Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (MOF). He then spent 2 years at Jardin Sucré (which has just opened a chocolate and tea shop in Dampierre, by the way). This prestigious background now enables him to create pastries that combine tradition and innovation, in a more intimate setting, far from the big Parisian houses.

He admits that, in this small artisan bakery-pastry shop, he can't go for overly original creations, as customers often wait for the classics. This doesn't prevent him from scattering a few creations here and there, to test them out and get customers used to them. As a small boutique, he is also limited in the number of pastries he can offer. That said, the chef informs us that, by the end of the year, the house will be opening a bakery-pastry shop with a tea room. This should enable him to increase production while offering a more varied range of creations.

• To be read
• The best patisseries and bakeries in Paris: our latest gourmet addresses to try out
• Top Paris-Brest in Paris: pastry shops for this delicacy
• What to do in Yvelines? Heritage, places and activities to discover

For Daniel, pastry-making is above all a matter of conviviality and sharing. He remembers that, during his childhood, cakes were reserved for special occasions, such as birthdays. It's this idea of celebration and joy that he seeks to convey through each of his creations.

With this new title, Gare Ô Pains confirms its place as one of the best bakeries in Yvelines, and we'll be sure to keep a close eye on the next creations from Daniel Agil and the Amilton dos Santos team, especially at the next galette des Rois competition. A gourmet event not to be missed! The company likes to enter all competitions, from traditional bread to the best croissant, to keep learning and improving.

In any case, we've tested the famous winning cakes, and it's a truly wonderful discovery. For his Paris-Brest, Daniel Agil chose to make a cream between a mousseline and a crème diplomate, lightened with crème montée. This gives the pastry a lighter, airier feel, less buttery as the chef puts it. Not very sweet, the Paris-Brest hides at its heart a generous and pure homemade praline, also not very sweet. The whole is topped with whole caramelized hazelnuts. We're still salivating...

As for the apple tart, Daniel decided to adapt the winning recipe into a version that's easier to make in the store, but no less astonishing. On a base of caramelized puff pastry, we find salted butter caramel, poached apples reminiscent of caramelized apple turnovers. The whole is topped with quenelles of whipped cream. Although original, the apple pie hallmarks are still there.

In short, why not treat yourself at the Meilleure Pâtisserie des Yvelines 2024? To make sure you don't miss out on your favorite pastries, remember to make a reservation.