Florian Bellanger

Florian Bellanger is a renowned French pastry chef, co-owner of Mad Mac Macarons, and a permanent judge on Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars.” After graduating from the prestigious École de Paris des Métiers de la Table in 1986 with a specialization in pastry cooking, chocolate, and ice cream, Florian Bellanger went on to establish himself as a globally recognized pastry chef. His early career included working under renowned French pastry chef Pierre Hermé at Fauchon in Paris from 1991 to 1994. Bellanger then served as the Executive Pastry Chef for Fauchon’s flagship store in Qatar from 1994 to 1996, before moving to New York City to become the Executive Pastry Chef at Fauchon’s Tea Salon flagship store. There, he led a team of 24 pastry chefs and gained significant recognition for his innovative flavor combinations, including orange zest, passion fruit, or coconut eclairs, raspberry marshmallow cake, Toulouse violet ice cream, and raspberry-chili pepper sorbet.

Bellanger is also deeply committed to philanthropic efforts, actively involved with notable charities such as C-CAP Careers Through Culinary Arts Program, the Wolfgang Puck Charity, and the Jean-Louis Palladin Foundation, continuing to shape the future of pastry arts and support community initiatives.