Coming Soon: Attica’s Ex-Head Pastry Chef Is Opening a Nostalgic Bakery Dedicated to Madeleines

As a little girl growing up in South Korea, HyoJu Park remembers watching a pastry chef bake madeleines on TV. That was her induction into the wonderful world of pastry.

She went on to work at London’s Langham hotel and Seoul’s two-Michelin-starred Mingles, and then most recently as head pastry chef at Attica.

But now she’s come full circle, set to open a bakery dedicated to madeleines – the small, shell-shaped sponge cakes originating in France – called Madeleine de Proust.

Known for their ridged underbelly and pillowy softness, the cakes seem to be having a moment in Melbourne, with excellent variations at new bakeries like Kudo and Tori’s. Plus, they’re on menus at classic restaurants like Cumulus Inc and Poodle.

Alongside Malaysian-born chef-partner Rong Yao Soh, Park launched her bakery on Instagram in January. But the couple is already looking for a store. “When we have the shopfront in the near future, we will be offering warm vanilla and milk-chocolate madeleines, which will be baked freshly every 30 minutes,” says Soh.

He says Madeleine de Proust is all about classic flavours with innovative spins. You might find an Asian-inspired yuzu or pandan (filled with kaya jam); burnt butter and leatherwood honey; Ferrero Rocher; lamington; or red velvet.

And as for the name? “It’s a saying that comes from [ Swann’s Way ], Marcel Proust’s famous novel from 1913,” Soh says. “‘Madeleine de Proust’ is an expression used to describe the taste, smell or any sensations reminding you of your childhood – nostalgia … We are creating madeleines that can make people share the joys of childhood.”

Madeleine de Proust orders are available via Instagram. Eight- or 10-flavour signature boxes are available for delivery or pick-up.

@madeleinedeproust_melb

This article was updated on March 21, 2023 to reflect the fact that Madeleine de Proust has launched on Instagram.