If there’s any time of year when culinary excitement peaks, it’s Christmas. The great pastry chefs of the world bring their exceptional “collections” to titillate the palate… and the eyes. This season, it’s Catherine Méra who wins the prize, or should we rather say: panache!
Based in Baie-Saint-Paul since 2019, then in Quebec since 2022, the dessert goldsmith offers his most accomplished creations to date. And for the second year in a row, she will deliver to Montreal on December 18 and 20.
The 2023 collection originates from a reflection on nature. The Charlevoix team was directly affected by the floods last spring, by the raging forest fires and by the torrential rains and tornado warnings as well.
“We have chosen to commit to Nature Québec and will donate $2 per log sold to the organization for actions to protect biodiversity and promote sustainable practices,” says Marc Méra, brother of the pastry chef who manages the Baie-Saint-Paul store and who himself lost his home in the flood.
Certainly, there is a world of difference between a raw tree in the forest and the highly crafted logs of Catherine Méra. But isn’t this delicious beauty precisely what humans do best?
I believe that we have succeeded in making a link between the primitive and pure aspect of nature and what we do in pastry making, always using raw and natural ingredients.
Marc Mera
PHOTO LUDOVIC BOQUEL, PROVIDED BY CATHERINE MERA
The interior of the Infiniment citrus log is not to be neglected!
The centerpiece, the signature Infiniment Citrus log, is presented on an impressive hand-sculpted Grand Cru chocolate moose plume. The set is obviously not cheap, at $380. But you can also order the log alone, in an eight-person format, for $98. The cake itself is a tribute to the team’s great pastry expertise, with a skilful marriage of citrus fruits (black lemon, yuzu, Buddha’s hand, caviar lemon) each worked in a different way and a pretty manual poaching.
2023 collection
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PHOTO LUDOVIC BOQUEL, PROVIDED BY CATHERINE MERA
Vanilla and haskap iced log
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PHOTO LUDOVIC BOQUEL, PROVIDED BY CATHERINE MERA
The chocolate and hazelnut log
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PHOTO LUDOVIC BOQUEL, PROVIDED BY CATHERINE MERA
The apple and maple log
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PHOTO LUDOVIC BOQUEL, PROVIDED BY CATHERINE MERA
The calamansi and timut pepper log
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“We estimate that we will do maybe 25 of these sets in total. » If citrus flavors aren’t your favorite, there are five other log options this year (at $69 each): Vanilla & Caramel, Chocolate & Hazelnut, Vanilla & Haskap (a glazed log that pays homage to the polar bear), apple and maple, calamansi (OK, it’s also a citrus fruit!) and timut pepper.
PHOTO LUDOVIC BOQUEL, PROVIDED BY CATHERINE MERA
The vanilla and caramel log
Catherine recently added a production manager, which allows us to do even more. While elsewhere there is perhaps a certain return to the classics, we really like the design here. It has to be beautiful. But above all it has to be good!
Marc Mera
Having tasted many of Catherine Méra’s desserts since our article about her in December 2021, we can confirm that the substance matches the form.
Catherine Méra products will be delivered to your home in the greater Montreal area on December 18 and 20, at a cost of $14.90.