A
pâtisserie is a
French bakery that specializes in
pastries and
sweets. In France, it is an official title that only bakeries that employ a
maître pâtissier (master pastry chef) may use. The
pâtissier is an artist who wants his or her creations to be as individual as they are, which is the reason for so many variations in French pastry shops and in
pâtisserie recipes. Often found in partnership with a
boulangerie, pâtisseries are a common sight in towns and villages in France.
The term pâtisserie also refers to the pastries produced by a pâtissier. Mass-produced pastries are also sometimes called pâtisserie.