Inside...

Yes. I'm sure many of you are jealous. But don't be too hard on yourself, I'm gonna spill everything I saw and learned in the Le 15 Patisserie kitchen! Owner, Pooja Dhingra, so young and still so amazing showed us around and also told us a few things we didn't know. 

The Le15 story started two years ago and has become an increasingly popular patisserie in such a short time. If you remember, I posted under Binge Eating about the amazing cupcakes and macaroons from this place. But that's not all. Pooja makes almost everything dessert! Tarts, Birthday Cakes, Wedding Cakes and a lot more. I took my friend ChicChick♥ along to share my excitement! We tied our hair before we entered the sacred kitchen and saw Pooja's elves at work. The Paan Macaroons were in the making! Wow, they looked SO pretty. So pretty, that I forced Pooja to show how she makes them herself :P

That's right, Paan Macaroons in the making!

The Master showing us how it's done

SMILE!

Owning and managing a patisserie when you're so young isn't that easy. We asked Pooja about how hard it was to start it but she said she dove straight into it without thinking. She works 12 hours a day and 7 days a week. Oh my god. How does she do it? She does take a 5 day holiday after about 4 months of this stressful schedule when she just can't take it anymore. Her mum takes care of the business when she's chilling. Awww.. Don't you just love mothers? 

As an eater, Pooja isn't very fussy but her favourites are cheesecake from The Tasting Room and Panacotta from Pali Village Cafe. She also loves Asian cuisine. Le 15 uses all the basic ingredients from Mumbai but imports the chocolate. Everything in this little workshop is made by Santa and her little helpers by hand. Le 15 makes about 1000 cupcakes a day. Phew! Imagine that! It hardly takes us a second to devour them though ;) just like we did our Red Velvet Cupcakes that you gave us. Yummmmmmm! 

Doing what I do best, EAT!

5 Things You Don't Know About Being A Pastry Chef 

- by Pooja Dhingra

• Being a pastry chef isn't easy. You're on your feet all day, it isn't always fun and you don't get any weekends off!
• It's an extremely creative occupation. You have to keep coming up with newer recipes, packaging and variety to keep your clients happy.
• Occupational Hazard: You eat A LOT, so obviously put on a few unwanted kilos.
• Holidays like Christmas, New Year's, etc. are no time to sit back and relax. Infact, they're your busiest periods!
• Everybody loves you. Yes, I can live with that! 

Awww :)

Apart from making the most amazing desserts, Le15 also has the most stylish packaging which I think adds to its Parisian feel. Cute pink boxes with satin and pictures of painted cupcakes, who wouldn't like that?

Today was a REALLY fun day and I just loved poking my nose into Pooja's business and annoying her with questions. I hope she found it at least half as fun as I did ;) 

Wishing her all the best from The Food & Fashion Blog ♥

xoxo

D