Make It Iconic: Nina Métayer, the new face of French pastry

Named “World’s Best Pastry Chef” not once, but twice, Nina Métayer is a name that has become synonymous with French excellence. The young chef is proud to serve as an ambassador for the French government’s Make It Iconic, Choose France campaign, celebrating French boldness, creativity, curiosity, and expertise.  

Nina Métayer: the making of a culinary star 

Born in 1988 in La Rochelle, France, Nina studied baking in France and Australia before honing her skills in prestigious Parisian establishments such as Le Meurice and Le Grand Restaurant. In 2020, she launched her own digital pâtisserie, an innovative business concept that emphasises environmental commitment and social responsibility. Rencontre. 

In October 2023, Nina Métayer became the first woman to be named “World’s Best Pastry Chef” by the International Union of Bakers and Confectioners. Just months later, in June 2024, she was again titled “World’s Best Pastry Chef” by 50 Best. She recently joined the Make It Iconic – Choose France programme, which unites some of France’s most celebrated cultural and culinary icons.  

The past year has been one of both growth and introspection for Métayer: looking back, she explains, “it’s been a year in which we’ve had to concentrate a lot on development. We’ve had to work a lot, and above all, we’ve had to concentrate on honouring this title with all that it symbolises, and carry on the values of French pastry.” 

Honouring tradition while driving innovation  

A sense of responsibility and respect for the traditions of her craft are sentiments Nina has carried with her throughout her career. Now, as the global ambassador for French pastry, she aims to balance tradition and innovation. She adds “France created haute patisserie, which involves delicacy, finesse, elegance, constant research and innovation,” while noting that for her, innovation means respecting the history of a dessert while “bringing our own authenticity and identity to it”, whether by using new ingredients or techniques.  

As an example, she details how she worked with her husband to develop a new way to make classic French tuiles with the help of moulds created using 3D printers. “So we’re keeping the crunchy side of the tuile, but on the other hand, we’re going to be able to make it even finer, even more delicate thanks to a tool we now have access to.” These innovative tuiles can be seen on many of her desserts, but especially her iconic galette des rois (king cakes), which Nina reinterprets every year, giving the traditional French pastry a modern twist. These special galettes are only available during Epiphany (January) and are highly sought after by her clientele.  

Sharing: the perfect ingredient for cooking  

For Nina, French pastry is about more than technical skill, it’s about sharing. Sharing one’s savoir-faire and passing down knowledge from generation to generation is an integral part of the French culinary tradition, and one Nina takes very seriously in her kitchen. “Sharing is essential in this business,” she notes. “Our profession is learned through the passing down of gestures… a recipe in a book isn’t enough: it’s the transmission and explanation that go with it.”  

And as generous as she is in sharing her expertise with her team, Nina also hopes to share something with those who enjoy her desserts. The French chef often speaks about her desire to evoke emotion and memory through her creations, adding “we can create a feeling of comfort, a sensation of discovery, a new flavour.” She mentions the nostalgia brought on by her own favourite dessert, her mother’s crumble, citing “why I like it… well, quite simply, it’s because my mum used to make it! It’s made with seasonal fruit, it’s very simple… because I’ve been eating it since I was a little girl too, because I made it with her, because it brings back memories and [gives me] that comfort.” It’s this careful attention Nina brings to her creations that make the act of consuming them a true experience.  

Make it Iconic: a growing legacy  

Nina’s success solidifies her position as a trailblazer– not only for women in French cuisine, but for any person mastering a craft and bringing their own unique spin to it or launching an avant-garde business model. Her involvement in France’s prestigious Make it Iconic programme, a programme which represents French values and celebrates the country’s spirit of creativity and innovation on an international platform, speaks to this. What is it like joining the ranks of acclaimed figures such as Anne-Sophie Pic and Mory Sacko, representing the best of France’s culture and gastronomy? “It’s… incredible, because it means we’re part of history, we’re part of France,” she says, “but it’s also a real responsibility… to share my experience, the values I carry on a daily basis, to inspire future young women and men to enter this profession.”  

Through every dessert, every shared technique, every award, Nina Métayer’s legacy grows, and it’s one built on all of the best things: tradition, generosity, innovation, and not least of all, gourmandise!  

To experience the magic of Nina Métayer’s desserts yourself, visit the Printemps du Goût in Paris, Chaoyi Buer & Nina Métayer in Shanghai, or follow Nina on Instagram for more information about her global pop-ups and events.