The Ruche Egg and Easter Brunch at the Mandarin Oriental Paris 2026, by Julien Dugourd

For Easter 2026, the Mandarin Oriental Paris, the 1st-arrondissement palace tucked along Rue Saint-Honoré, is celebrating its own urban beehives in a distinctly imaginative way: by nestling them inside a chocolate Easter egg. The creation is called La Ruche, crafted by Chef Pâtissier Consultant Julien Dugourd, and it elegantly embodies the subtle dialogue between city and nature that unfolds each season atop the hotel’s roofs.

Who is Julien Dugourd, the chef at the helm of La Ruche?

Since 2025, Julien Dugourd has been the consulting pastry chef at Mandarin Oriental Paris. Hailing from the Vosges, he began his career under Marc Veyrat, then refined his craft at Hôtel de Paris in Monaco and at Alain Ducasse’s Louis XV. He later joined Christophe Michalak at the Plaza Athénée before taking the helm of pastry at La Chèvre d’Or in Èze. In 2007, he captured the European Pastry Championship title, and his talent has led to collaborations with Dior Parfums, Bell & Ross, and the Monaco Royal Palace. It’s safe to say La Ruche is in excellent hands.

La Ruche, an Easter egg inspired by the rooftops of Paris

Few Parisian palaces can boast having their own bees. The Mandarin Oriental, for its part, houses beehives on its roof, whose honey now lies at the heart of its Easter 2026 creation. The egg stands 28 cm tall and 18 cm wide, giving it a striking sculptural presence.

Under the chocolate shell, a thoughtfully crafted trio of flavors unfolds: a lush hazelnut praline, caramelized hazelnuts for a crackling bite, and a honey hive caramel that melts delicately, with warm floral notes. It’s the kind of creation that plays with texture without overdoing it, balancing sweetness with a hint of toasted bitterness. Pastry Chef Théo David, Julien Dugourd’s right-hand at the palace, oversees its daily production.

The Beehive is available at the Mandarin Oriental Paris Cake Shop at Mandarin Oriental Paris Cake Shop from March 27 to April 12, 2026, priced at 75 euros, and can be ordered online at least 24 hours in advance. To place an order, contact the palace at 01 70 98 74 00 or via mopar-camelia@mohg.com. A charming gift idea for chocolate lovers, fans of palace-quality pastries, or anyone seeking an Easter egg that stands out from the crowd.

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The Easter Brunch at the Camélia: a grand gathering on April 5, 2026

On Sunday April 5, 2026, the Le Camélia restaurant invites you to an Easter brunch crafted by Chef Nina Haradji, featuring seasonally driven plates. Among the starters, expect flame-charred leeks with truffle and a sherry‑vinegar sweet‑sour finish, or a crispy egg with spinach, brown butter, and a woodland emulsion. For the mains, choose between monkfish in vin jaune with asparagus and morels, or a lamb leg crusted in salt, sliced at the table and served with black cardamom oil, turnips, and glazed peas. The Easter dessert and chocolate buffet is prepared by Julien Dugourd.

Kids aren’t being left out: there’s a dedicated menu, activities with bilingual hosts, and an egg hunt in the hotel’s Indoor Garden on the agenda. Brunch is priced at 175 euros per person (excluding wines and beverages) and 85 euros for children aged 6 to 12. Reservations at 01 70 98 74 00 or at mopar-camelia@mohg.com.

Who is this experience for?

La Ruche caters to discerning gourmets in search of a palace-grade pastry to give or to savor, to chocolate lovers who relish elegant texture pairings, and to families wishing to mark the holidays with a touch more refinement than usual. Le brunch du Camélia will be perfect for families with children or for gatherings that want a festive and refined moment without fuss, yet with the means to indulge.

Two more spots to try this Easter in Paris:

Sticking with the world of chocolate-palace desserts, we think of the Easter egg from Pâques du Shangri-La Paris by Timothy Lam, and the Peninsula Paris's chocolate creations by Anne Coruble—the two addresses that consistently outdo themselves in whimsy with every spring edition.

Exceptional Easter chocolates and eggs for 2026 in Paris, the sumptuous creations put to the test
For Easter 2026, discover the exclusive chocolates crafted by Paris's luxury palaces and hotels. These unique and refined creations are brought to life by top pastry chefs. [Read more]