Meet Neil

Some of you may remember me from the French patisseries I proudly owned around Melbourne’s inner suburbs. For years, I poured everything into my craft, the early mornings, the buttered dough, the pursuit of perfection. But in April 2019, my world changed in an instant. I suffered a major stroke that left me completely paralysed down my left side. Overnight, I lost not only my physical strength but also the ability to continue building the dream I had worked my entire life for.

Doctors weren’t sure I’d make it. I was told I might never walk again, let alone return to a kitchen. The grief of letting go of my patisseries, my team, and the daily rhythm of baking hit harder than I can express. For a long time, I felt like I had lost my identity.

But somewhere in that darkness, a quiet spark remained. I began experimenting at home with cookie recipes, far from the refined elegance of my well-known almond croissants, but deeply healing in their own way. It started slowly, one-handed mixing, lots of failed batches, and even more frustration. But with every tray that came out of the oven, I felt a tiny part of myself return. Baking became more than just a skill, it became my therapy, my purpose, my fight that I had trained for my entire life.

Over time, with relentless physiotherapy, unwavering support from loved ones, and a determination I didn’t know I had, I began to regain movement and confidence. I refined my recipes, embraced bold new flavour combinations, and gradually reconnected with the joy of creating.

Today, after years of recovery and reinvention, I’m proud to say I’m back doing what I love, producing and wholesaling my beloved pastries to cafés, bakeries, providores, and events across Melbourne. They’re not just pastries, they’re a symbol of resilience, of finding light in the darkest places, and of not giving up when everything seems lost.

It’s been the hardest chapter of my life, but also the most humbling. I’m beyond grateful to be here, baking again, and sharing a part of my journey with each bite. I look forward to reconnecting with familiar faces and introducing new ones to the products I’ve poured every ounce of heart and hope into. Thank you for being part of this next chapter.