dessert
Jayce Baudry French Pastry, a French patisserie, is a local favorite among the Church Street retailers in Montclair. The bakery, owned by a husband-and-wife team, brings classic baked goods like tarts, eclairs, and macarons, as well as ice cream, coffee, tea, and more to downtown Montclair at 17 Church Street. Read on to learn more about Jayce Baudry in Montclair and its owners.
About the Owner
Jayce Baudry began his pastry career at a very young age. He was just 14 years old when he landed his first apprenticeship back in Bordeaux, France. He went on to work under prestigious chefs throughout France in both Paris and Lyon, two of the country’s most well-known food cities. Jayce had a deep knowledge of the technical aspects of baking, was always learning new skills, and had a passion for pastries, which helped him advance in his career.
Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Desserts in Montclair
Jayce then took the biggest chance of them all and made a leap to the Big Apple in 2013. Jayce landed at Restaurant Daniel where he was the Executive Pastry Sous Chef for Daniel Boulud, who is one of the world’s most famous chefs. Later, he was promoted to Executive Pastry Chef of Epicerie Boulud, a high-end cafe market with multiple Manhattan locations.
“My wife and I were both working in New York City, her as an executive pastry sous chef in a Michelin star restaurant and me as Executive Pastry Chef of three stores,” Jayce told The Montclair Girl ahead of the patisserie’s opening in 2021. “We ended up laid off as so many restaurant workers were. We did not know what tomorrow would bring. We were at the same time expecting our first child and as the months passed we started to realize we would never go back to what used to be our normal life. From there, all possibilities were open.”
Jayce made his way to New Jersey a few years back to support friends Dominique Paulin and Olivier Muller, as a pastry chef in their new venture, a French restaurant in town that may ring a bell: Faubourg.
Baudry previously worked with Dominique and Olivier during their overlapping tenures with Boulud in New York City, and they have been close companions ever since.
It was during this time in New York when Jayce also met his future partner, wife, and fellow pastry chef, Rebecca. When the opportunity to have his own shop was presented to Baudry, he knew he had to take advantage.
“I decided to open a French pastry shop in Montclair after seeing my friends Olivier Muller and Dominique Paulin successfully open their French restaurant, Faubourg, and witnessing how the people of Montclair appreciated the experience,” he previously explained. “After meeting a lot of people and visiting the town, it became evident that it was time for me to open my own pastry shop in this beautiful town.”
About the Bakery
The shop is located on Montclair’s bustling Church Street, nestled between Proven Poke Co. and Fresca da Franco. The idyllic storefront is hard to ignore.
The store serves up classic, upscale French desserts like dark chocolate eclairs, which is a light pastry dough filled with decadent chocolate creme, and lemon meringue tarts, filled with smooth lemony custard topped with toasted meringue. There are also imported items that fill the pantry including, but not limited to chocolate-covered cherries, wildflower honey, macarons, ice cream and calissons, a traditional French candy. Jayce Baudry also sells custom cakes, and you cannot go wrong with a classic croissant here. Jayce previously told MG you can find pastries and cakes like those made in pastry shops in Paris, but are rare to find here in the Garden State.
See More: French Kitchen Studio, Atelier Sucré, Opens at the Monroe Center in Hoboken
“My pastries are designed to interact with all of your senses,” Jayce said. “The first and most important one of course is taste, but I like to not mix too many flavors to keep the true taste of noble ingredients. My second focus is on the visual, as I think we eat pastries first with our eyes, and so they need to be sexy and seducing you — every little detail is important. The touch is also very important as you want a pastry to be easy to eat, to be able to grab it with your hand, or easily cut it with a fork and knife. And finally, the sound, of the crunchy part when you take a bite, and the smell, of all the ingredients mixed together as a unique perfume.”
Jayce Baudry French Pastry is open Sunday through Thursday from 9AM-7PM, and Friday and Saturday from 9AM-9PM.
This article is sponsored by El Gordo Peruvian Eatery.
Nearly 30 years of legacy-driven expertise can be tasted in every bite at El Gordo Peruvian Eatery, a fast-casual, woman-owned Peruvian restaurant with three New Jersey locations. Built on the perseverance of a single mother’s dream, El Gordo is still run by the loving family behind it all — and the youngest member of that family, Madison Velis, has recently brought the tradition to Montclair. Located at 324B Orange Road, El Gordo is the latest addition to the MTC food scene, packing a mighty punch of traditional Peruvian eats available for dine-in and take-out. Read on to learn more about Montclair’s newest restaurant, El Gordo Peruvian Eatery.
Family Roots
It all started back in 1996 when Monica Velis immigrated from Peru with a dream. Monica was determined to open a restaurant, but not just for the sake of starting a business: she wanted to build a lasting legacy, one her daughters would be proud of. To Monica, El Gordo represents the American Dream and her personal story of perseverance, passion, and legacy, built on decades of tradition.
El Gordo is the kind of place where both Peruvians and food lovers alike can taste and experience the authentic flavors of “home.” Food is more than just a meal — it’s a celebration of culture, history, and togetherness that spans generations. The heart and soul of Peru are infused into every dish, honoring family tradition while embracing the local community. Monica’s — and El Gordo’s — love language is food.
The Montclair Expansion
What originated as a single location has flourished into the El Gordo Peruvian Eatery brand with three locations, a second sister brand called El Gordo Sauces, and nearly 30 years of top-tier Peruvian eats infused with Monica’s lasting entrepreneurial spirit. Each location is owned and operated by members of the founding family. Monica leads the Passaic location, with daughter, Lizeth Morales, running the Jersey City and Union locations. Now, the next generation is proudly stepping in to continue the legacy as Monica’s youngest daughter, Madison Velis, opens the new Montclair location at 324B Orange Road.
Growing up immersed in the restaurant world, Madison saw firsthand the hard work, love, and resilience that built El Gordo into the New Jersey institution it is today. Now, she’s stepping into her own role within the family business, embracing the opportunity to honor her mother’s vision while bringing fresh energy and ideas to the table.
“This location represents more than expansion—it’s a new chapter in a journey that started with a mother’s dream and continues with the next generation,” the team shared with The Montclair Girl.
On The Menu
El Gordo is most known for its savory Peruvian classics such as Pollo a la Brasa (rotisserie chicken), Chaufa (Peruvian fried rice), Lomo Saltado (marinated steak, veggies, fries + rice), Arroz con Pollo (chicken + rice), and fresh Ceviche, all complemented by the signature Peruvian green sauce —which is so popular, patrons can buy it by the bottle. The sauce has a creamy, bold, and flavorful kick that acts as the perfect addition to any El Gordo dish. Dessert is a no-brainer with Alfajores (dulce de leche-filled cookies) or a Vanilla Dulce de Leche Cake.
Customers are always welcome to dine in El Gordo’s cozy, convenient atmosphere for a quick bite, but the restaurant’s primary focus is takeout and delivery, available on Uber Eats, GrubHub, and DoorDash.
Outside of the restaurant, El Gordo even provides catering services for small and large-scale events, from intimate family gatherings to corporate events, weddings, birthday parties, and more.
Locals can try El Gordo Peruvian Eatery’s cuisine at 324 B. Orange Road in Montclair, 2179 Morris Ave in Union, 291 Central Avenue in Jersey City, and 295 Monroe Street in Passaic. Online delivery + pick-up orders can be placed here.
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