Cyril Lignac Launches a Designer Bakery/Tea Room in the 17th

The bustling rue Bayen, in the heart of the Poncelet street market, is the location for chef/pâtissier Cyril Lignac and partner chef Benoit Couvrand’s fifth bakery/ pâtisserie with state-of-the-art interior by architects Karl and Oliver of Studio KO. You’ll find excellent signature breads– traditional baguettes, cheese, sourdough and Tonka caramel chocolate loaves– plus cakes, pastries, chocolate bars, and macarons. Also, there’s a space to sit, chill and enjoy a pan bagnat (€1.10-€3.10), croissant (€1.60) kouign amann or warm honey madeleines (from €1.30) with tea, coffee, juice inside or on the terrace in warmer weather. It’s a great beginning for 2017. Following a messy scooter accident last November, Cyril was immobilized for two long months. A period in which he had time to reflect and refocus – an introspection that he says has since changed his outlook on life. From the Aveyron region, Cyril arrived in Paris with just a suitcase and CAP de cuisinier/pâtissier qualifications (Certificat d’Aptitude Professionnelle). He talked his way into the kitchens of the likes of Alain Passard (his hero), Pierre Hermé and Joël Robuchon. Then, with his movie star looks, he was signed by the TV channel M6 for Oui, Chef, a 5-part documentary/reality show, based on Jamie Oliver’s Jamie’s Kitchen, and voilà! became a superstar overnight. Thereafter, Cyril managed his image brilliantly in the media and on the Parisian culinary scene while creating a small empire and opening his restaurants, “Thanks to the money I earned on TV,” he explained to Figaroscope, “I was able to reinvest in many projects.” Currently he’s at the helm of 200+ people, including 50 in his production company! As well as pâtisseries and chocolate boutiques, there’s his Michelin star Le Quinzième, two bistros – Le Chardenoux and Aux Prés – and the achingly hip Le Bar des Près, a sushi bar located at 25 rue du Dragon on the Left Bank. Last November, just after the opening of the sushi & cocktail bar, Cyril had the scooter accident in the middle of Paris. A misfortune that made him realize it was necessary to maybe slow down a bit. “My outlook has changed since the accident,” he explained to Figaroscope. “Before, I was a total control freak; the accident made me kick back and consider how I will continue. I rely on my team and thanks to them, I’m back on my feet with this new project on rue Bayen.” Happily, the polo-playing chef is now back in the saddle. Future plans include the re-design of the listed Le Chardenoux his 11th arrondissement neo-bistro, rue Jules Valles. “Paris has given me everything,” he says. “I hope I’ve given something back.” La Pâtisserie Bayen, 9 rue Bayen, 17th. Metro: Ternes. Tel: 01 55 87 21 40. Open Monday-Friday 10am-7pm, Saturday-Sunday 9am-7pm. Web: www.cyrillignac.com