A Perth pastry chef is keeping the recipes and memory of his famous mentor alive at his new cafe, which has opened in the same western suburbs spot his career began under celebrated patissier Emmanuel Mollois.
Deric Fong, known as Wei to his friends and family, opened the doors to Whisked the Right Wei in Swanbourne last Tuesday.
The Shenton Road premises was formerly home to Mollois’ french patisserie Choux Cafe, which opened in 2003.
It’s a full circle moment for Fong, who started at Choux in 2010, where he learnt the art of French pastry and desserts from Mollois, including specialities such as the croquembouche.
French-born Mollois, who died from bone cancer in 2017, was considered WA’s most famous pastry chef and was a beloved TV personality, cookbook author and restaurateur.
Fong said it felt “unreal” to be back in the same kitchen where he had spent many long nights year ago trying to perfect his mentor’s recipes.
“When I worked here, I was just a beginner apprentice and I used to worship him,” he said.
“When I applied for the job, I didn’t know that he was a celebrity chef in Australia. I found the job in the newspaper.”
When Mollois decided to open Bistros des Artistes in Subiaco in 2013, he brought Fong on board as his head pastry chef.
Before opening the bistro, the pair took a trip to Paris to find inspiration and for Fong to learn from Mollois’ master Denis Ruffel.
On the plane ride over, Fong said he promised his mentor that if he ever had his own shop he would share the recipes Mollois had taught him and continue his passion for French pastries.
“I miss him, of course, because he passed away quite young and I still had a lot to learn from him, but unfortunately I can’t,” he said.
“But I just have to keep my promise and the memories we made in France.”
He and his wife also run a cafe in Lathlain and a stall at the Manning markets.
Fong said the Swanbourne community had welcomed him back with open arms and he was excited to showcase his sweet creations.