L'Orange Patisserie

Chef Wim Den Hartog has brought more than 30 years experience in Michelin-starred restaurants and some of Canberra's best-known hospitality names to the creation of the L'Orange Patisserie.

His career began as a 14-year-old in his native Holland as it does for most young hospitality workers as a kitchen hand and sinks full of washing up. But Wim's passion for food soon saw him entered into an apprenticeship and the youngster's career direction was forged over, of all things, the humble mousse. "I was working in a French bistro that had a separate pastry room where a woman worked, making chocolate mousse," he says. "I was fascinated with the white and dark swirls and how it all folded together. I was absolutely entranced. That's where it started."

Since that culinary epiphany, Chef Wim has mastered his art and his philosophy that ensures his cakes, pastries and desserts are more than just momentary pleasures, they are experiences to be savoured, remembered and repeated.