The renowned Brussels pastry chef and chocolatier Paul Wittamer has died at the age of 81, daily La Dernière Heure reports and his family has confirmed the news on social media. ‘He was an icon in our world,’ say fellow chocolatiers.
Famous Brussels pastry chef and icon in the world of chocolate Paul Wittamer dies
Colin Clapson
Published:
Paul Wittamer was the grandson of the founder of the famous Wittamer bakery in the Brussels downtown. The company was founded more than 40 years ago by his grandfather Henri. Paul eventually took over the prestigious family business and ran it, together with his sister Myriam, for more than 40 years.
By the 90s of the previous century the chocolate and patisserie brand was already being exported to Japan. Wittamer was also one of the creators of the ‘Samba’ chocolate cake.
Icon in the chocolate world
‘For our generation of chocolatiers and pastry chefs, Wittamer was an icon,’ says fellow chocolatier Dominique Persoone. ‘He was strict and a keen perfectionist. In the 1980s he developed many innovative ideas. He meant a lot to Belgian pastry and really put us on the map. It's terrible to lose a legend like that.’
‘I am shocked that such an icon has passed away, because in our world he was at the very top. I didn't know him very well myself, but I am very happy that on occasion he let me taste some of his new ideas. He was very modest, but his inventions were very innovative,’ says colleague Roger Van Damme.