La Pâtisserie Mélilot, the 20th arrondissement's artisanal gourmet haunt

La Pâtisserie Mélilot, opened at the end of 2022, has become a meeting place for local residents and gourmets passing through the 20th arrondissement. This human-sized boutique, where everything is homemade, offers a selection of pastries in which the melilot plant plays a starring role. Pâtisserie Mélilot attracts the curious and connoisseurs alike, thanks to the originality and quality of its creations. Located at 50 rue de la Réunion, near the square of the same name, it boasts a sober, lantern-lit façade.

As soon as you enter, you'll be seduced by the tantalizing aromas that guide you to a window displaying the sweet creations. Chef Sabrina Allard, the heart and soul of this place, who has always loved pastry-making, has combined her passion and know-how with ingredients often neglected, such as melilot, used here to sublimate traditional pastries. It can be found in preparations such as crème pâtissière, cake, here and there.

A local resident, she wanted to open a patisserie like she loves to find. Here, forget the bread and pastries (apart from the apple turnover and the roll), this is a pastry shop offering only homemade products. That's why both the window and the stall aren't 20 metres long. Out with the industrial and the ready-made. Production is reduced, and when there's none left, well, there's none left (logical).

At Mélilot, you'll find individual pastries as well as larger formats for sharing, such as Pavlova, Saint-Honoré and fraisier. Remember to order large formats. You'll find classic pastries boldly revisited: choux filled with creams flavored with pistachio, rhubarb or chocolate, seasonal fruit tarts with delicate touches of verbena or thyme, and original creations like beet cake inspired by carrot cake. We love the fusion of tradition and innovation, for a taste experience of a lifetime.

Travel cakes and cookies include cookies, brownies, various kinds of cakes, madeleines, chouquettes and plain or cinnamon-rolled brioches, not forgetting the excellent apple turnover with Viennese puff pastry and homemade roasted compote, which we recommend.

During our visit, we also enjoyed a melilot flan that was as surprising as it was delicious, a pistachio chou with a regressive pistachio praline center, and a crunchy strawberry tart with seasonal strawberries. Cookie lovers can also enjoy the chocolate tahini version.

• To be read
• Tips for the week of May 6 - 12, 2024 in Paris: free or cheap outings
• What to do in May 2024 in Paris and the Ile-de-France region? Our tips and ideas for outings
• In less than 100 days, Paris will unite the world! A historic chapter, to be written together

The chef also has a strong commitment to sustainability and respect for products. Local sourcing and reducing waste are at the heart of her philosophy. Her carefully selected suppliers bring her fresh, natural ingredients from the surrounding regions of France, a guarantee of quality and freshness. These include seasonal fruit direct from producers, organic flour from Moulins Bourgeois and chocolate from Nicolas Berger.

Please note that Pâtisserie Mélilot is not open all day. Open Wednesday to Friday, 4pm to 7pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Travel cakes cost around 3€, while individual pastries run from 4€ to 6€.

In short, if you're in the mood for good patisserie with the certainty of home-made goodness, and want to tantalize your taste buds with subtle aromas, head for Pâtisserie Mélilot in the 20th arrondissement.