Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris Unveils This Year’s Christmas Yule Log Crafted by Pastry Chef Michael Bartocetti

To celebrate the festive season, Michael Bartocetti has created an elegant and refined Yule log that draws inspiration from the graceful contours of a pine branch.

With its elegant curves, the Yule log is the perfect choice to adorn a festive table. This exquisite creation is a subtle nod to the head pastry chef’s childhood. "The fir branches bring back memories of the Christmas table my grandmother used to set on Christmas Eve. Every year, to infuse our Christmas dinner with a festive spirit, she would place a branch from the fir tree she had cut from our family’s own tree in the centre of the table. It created a warm, timeless ambience that lingers in my memory and remains close to my heart," explains Michael Bartocetti.

Delicately adorned with fine sprigs of Nicolas Berger 68% Colombia dark chocolate, and decorated with dark chocolate ganache and bonbon pralines fashioned into the shape of pinecones, the Yule log stands out for its harmonious interplay of flavours and textures.

At the heart of this lustrous and vibrant dessert is a light, creamy mousse infused with cocoa pod mucilage, imparting fruity and zesty notes that invigorate and revitalise the palate. To elevate the subtlety of this flavour bouquet, a 70% Papua New Guinea dark chocolate cream brings woody, earthy undertones that are further enriched by a praline made from toasted and lightly smoked hazelnuts. With each bite, these flavour essences evoke a sense of nostalgia akin to Proust’s madeleine, transporting those who indulge to memories of winters huddled by a warm, crackling fireplace.

The dessert also features a delicate vanilla biscuit that harmoniously blends the rich and velvety notes of Madagascar and Tahitian vanilla. The chef enhances this experience with the comforting crunch of a crispy layer made with toasted bread and toasted coffee beans, evoking a sense of warmth and comfort.

Available from December 21, 2023, the Yule log by Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris is priced at  EUR 135 (8 people). For the most ardent dessert enthusiasts, Michael Bartocetti and his team will offer a Yule log inspired dessert during Christmas Tea-Time at La Galerie from December 1, 2023 – a wonderful opportunity for friends and family to come together, indulge, and enjoy the festive atmosphere that imbues the Hotel at this time of year.