Nicolas Paciello Takes the Reins of the Dessert Menu at Chalet des Îles
Pastry Chef Nicolas Paciello is joining the Chalet des Îles, in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne, to create sweet delights alongside Chef Pierre Chomet.
On the Lower Lake in the Bois de Boulogne, the Chalet des Îles is adding a new signature dessert to its menu. The restaurant has entrusted its desserts to Nicolas Paciello, a pastry chef who has worked at several renowned Parisian establishments and now runs his own patisseries. For this first collaboration, he’s going back to basics with four creations centered around familiar ingredients and bold flavors.
Reimagined Classics
Through the end of September, the menu features, among other items, a strawberry cake with fresh strawberries and strawberry confit infused with verbena, as well as a two-lemon shortbread topped with meringue. Chocolate takes center stage in a Madagascar chocolate semi-noir cake and a cocoa and fleur de sel cookie, while the caramel éclair indulges the sweet tooth with speculoos crumbs.
This approach stays true to Nicolas Paciello’s vision, as he likes to draw on popular classics to reinterpret them in new ways. In his shops, the chef champions accessible and generous pastries, blending timeless classics, childhood memories, and a meticulous attention to textures and flavors.
A Career at Leading Establishments
A native of Moselle, Nicolas Paciello cut his teeth working alongside pastry chef Christophe Gre before moving to Paris and joining Fauchon, where he stayed for five years. He continued his career atthe Hôtel de Crillon, helped launch Cyril Lignac and Benoît Couvrand’s first pastry shop, and then worked successively at the Prince de Galles and La Réserve - Le Gabriel. In 2019, he became executive pastry chef at Fouquet’s Paris, where he worked notably with Pierre Gagnaire. After gaining experience in the world of haute patisserie, he founded CinqSens and then opened his first eponymous boutique in 2024. There, he champions artisanal and contemporary pastries, with a particular focus on flavor and indulgence.
This collaboration with Le Chalet des Îles is part of his commitment to making pastries as desirable as they are accessible. And the experience won’t end with summer: starting in October, Nicolas Paciello will unveil a new selection inspired by seasonal ingredients, continuing this fusion between his world of pastry and that of the Parisian venue.
