Last straight line before the final for the candidates still in competition. This Thursday, December 23, M6 broadcasts the semi-final of Best Pastry Chef 2021. The public will see Aya, Maud, Alexandre and Mohamed compete against each other. Before the public discovered the show, the latter gave an interview to the Parisian, the opportunity to discover a little more about his private life.
He is one of the most endearing candidates of this edition. The 34-year-old father who lives in Blanc-Mesnil (Seine-Saint-Denis) would never have thought of participating in the program presented by Marie Portolano. Younger, Mohamed was especially passionate about motorcycles. School, on the other hand, interested him much less as he explained in Parisian : “It wasn’t for me. I didn’t like it. And then I was very turbulent … In college, I did not get my diploma. So I did a mosaic tile CAP. Afterwards I did a lot of jobs: storekeeper, courier, driver … Then, I set up a business consulting firm. “
If he was so rowdy at the time, it was because he was sorely lacking in self-confidence. A personality trait that arose as a result of a tragedy. “Maybe it’s because I lost my mother very young, at 7 years old. This is also why I did a lot of stupid things at school. Nothing replaces the love of a mom. This is also why I am so attached to my children … What is certain is that the show has helped me. It made me progress technically but it also allowed me to be more sure of myself. And then when I see in the eyes of my daughters that they are proud of their daddy, it’s a great gift“, did he declare.
A passion confirmed during confinement
It was while offering a cake from a Pierre Hermé boutique to his wife for her birthday that he saw pastry from another angle. Mohamed felt incredible emotions. “A real slap“, he specified. He therefore took advantage of the first confinement to improve his pastry skills.”It was the first time I got up in the morning without knowing what to do. It was psychologically tough. This is where I really started to bake, learning the techniques, perfecting myself. But I immediately went to see the great chefs, buying their books and redoing their recipes. I started watching the show in a different way, saying to myself ‘That, I would be able to do it’“, he continued.
Pushed by his wife Souhir, whom he married at the age of 19, he ended up passing the casting of the Best Pastry Chef. And his career proves that he did well! Today, he hopes to be able to make a living from his passion. There is no doubt that the public will be there because he is already recognized when he leaves his home. “The other time, it was a little embarrassing when people recognized me at the supermarket … I don’t want to be a star. I’m just a guy from Blanc-Mesnil who bakes cakes …“, he concluded.