Maxime Frederic is one of the most celebrated pastry chefs in France, the pastry chef of Cheval Blanc Paris and, in 2025, named the World’s Best Pastry Chef by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. A Normandy native with a deep love of dairy, wheat and raw ingredients, he has become known for pastry and bakery that turn simple, honest produce into intense emotional experiences.
Overseeing the sweet creations across the restaurants of one of Paris’s finest hotels, Frederic combines rigorous craft with a personal, farm-rooted philosophy that has taken him to the very top of his profession.
TL;DR
- French pastry chef at Cheval Blanc Paris
- Named World’s Best Pastry Chef 2025 by The World’s 50 Best
- From Normandy, with a passion for dairy and wheat
- Oversees the desserts of Cheval Blanc’s restaurants including Plenitude
- Also runs the Paris bakery Pleincoeur
Maxime Frederic key facts
| Origin | Normandy, France |
| Nationality | French |
| Role | Pastry chef, Cheval Blanc Paris |
| Honour | World’s Best Pastry Chef 2025 |
| Also | Pleincoeur bakery, Paris |
From a Normandy farm
Maxime Frederic hails from Normandy and holds a deep attachment to its dairy culture – milk, cream and butter run through his work. After earning his baking qualification and completing an apprenticeship at a village bakery, he trained in some of Paris’s most important hotels, including Le Meurice and the Four Seasons George V, before joining Cheval Blanc Paris in 2019.
Cheval Blanc Paris
At Cheval Blanc, Frederic leads the pastry and bakery for the Maison’s restaurants, including the three-Michelin-star Plenitude. His signature is a mastery of raw ingredients, with wheat and flour taking centre stage, and a virtuosity that turns bread and pastry into genuine emotional experiences rather than mere technical showpieces.
World’s best and beyond
After being named the most creative pastry chef in the world by La Liste, Frederic was crowned World’s Best Pastry Chef by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2025. Beyond the hotel, he has opened a neighbourhood bakery called Pleincoeur in the Batignolles district of Paris with his wife and friends, where bread, croissants and chocolate share the counter, some made with coffee and cacao from the family farm in Bolivia.
Signature style
Frederic’s style is rooted in respect for ingredients and place. He elevates humble staples – dairy, wheat, honey – through impeccable technique, aiming always for emotion and memory rather than spectacle. His work bridges haute patisserie and honest bakery, a combination that has made him one of the most admired pastry chefs in the world.
Maxime Frederic in context
Frederic is one of the leading French pastry chefs featured on Pickup Table 4, alongside Cedric Grolet and Francois Perret.
Follow Maxime Frederic
Cheval Blanc Paris – official site
Maxime Frederic FAQ
Who is Maxime Frederic?
A French pastry chef at Cheval Blanc Paris, named World’s Best Pastry Chef 2025.
Where does he work?
At Cheval Blanc Paris, overseeing the desserts of its restaurants.
Where is he from?
Normandy, with a strong attachment to its dairy culture.
What award has he won?
World’s Best Pastry Chef 2025 from The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Does he have his own bakery?
Yes – Pleincoeur in the Batignolles district of Paris.
