With a bit of flour, sugar, eggs, and a generous dose of inspiration from the diverse cuisines of his heritage—stretching from France to Sicily—Chef Jeffrey Cagnes reaches for the stars in his own sky.
If you ever find yourself in Paris, make sure not to leave without visiting Jeffrey Cagnes’ charming pastry shop near the Eiffel Tower. There, you’ll find a delightful array of pastries, from irresistible tarts to perfectly flaky croissants. The chef’s personal favorite? The classic French tart, Citron. When Cagnes first opened his shop, he adjusted the traditional recipe to suit his mother’s palate. Many of the creations here similarly blend time-honored flavors with the chef’s personal flair. Step through the blue door and enter a world of French pastry magic—this is where Jeffrey Cagnes’s story unfolds.
Cagnes’s culinary journey began at just 14 years old. Initially, the kitchen served as a refuge from school, but it soon ignited a lifelong passion that would propel him to stardom. By the age of 17, he was already working at Stohrer, one of Paris’s most iconic pastry shops. Over the years, he honed his skills at renowned establishments like Pelletier, Sébastien Gaudard, and Hédiard. In 2021, he opened his first namesake pastry shop and quickly expanded, launching additional branches across Paris in the years that followed.
“A pastry chef reveals himself in his creations, presenting his personality to his customers. My goal is to offer generous and sincere pastries every day.” — Jeffrey Cagnes
For this world-renowned pastry chef, the key to success lies in three things: self-confidence, listening to your heart, and staying motivated. Just as importantly, he finds inspiration in his roots. The culinary traditions of his Italian and German grandfathers, his Jewish grandmother, and his French lineage all infuse his creations. From milk and honey on one side of the family to orange blossom on the other, every flavor tells a story. Like a musician improvising freely at a piano, Cagnes approaches his craft with boundless creativity—expressing his passion through every dessert he makes. By fusing classical techniques with global influences, he creates a symphony of flavors. It’s precisely this spirit that brought his path to cross with Zenith’s.
