Bonjour! We are Alex and Tess.

Alex was born in Paris and raised in the South of France. An Arsenal-loving, 2000s rap-listening sweet tooth enthusiast, his artisanal approach and attention to detail have been shaped by years of experience in some remarkable kitchens. From Nice to London, he has worked in renowned establishments including The Wolseley and Brasserie Zédel, as well as helping open a venue for Jamie Oliver.

Tess is a local through and through. You might recognise her as the daughter of music teacher legend Mrs Fair (not Hannah—the other one!), or perhaps she taught you or your little ones to swim. With a background in performing arts, hospitality, customer service and swim teaching, she has always loved bringing people together and creating memorable experiences.

Our story began on the Bakerloo line of the London Underground. After a long day at work, Alex happened to sit opposite Tess, who was living abroad at the time. That chance encounter led to a move to Nice, where Alex joined the prestigious LAC Pâtisserie and Tess happily took on the very important role of official taste tester.

Eventually, Australia was calling. After travelling and working in patisseries throughout Melbourne during lockdown, we found ourselves drawn to the beautiful South Coast and made Milton our home. Alex became Head Pastry Chef at the much-loved Lagom Bakery, but there was always a dream quietly waiting in the background.

Fast forward to August 2024. While celebrating our daughter Élodie's second birthday, we noticed the perfect little shop become available. With just 48 hours to decide, we took the leap. The timing wasn't ideal—Tess was heavily pregnant—but then again, is there ever a perfect time to chase your dream?

By October, Beurre Noisette opened its doors in a whirlwind of flour, butter, long days and excitement. We were overwhelmed by the incredible support from our community. Just a few months later, in January, we briefly closed our doors to welcome our beautiful daughter Zoé before returning with even more love, purpose and inspiration.

Today, Beurre Noisette is our little slice of France in Milton. Every morning, our cabinets are filled with handcrafted pastries made using traditional French techniques, quality ingredients and as much local produce as possible.

When you walk through our doors, you'll see beautiful seasonal creations, hear the buzz of friends and families gathering, and smell the unmistakable aroma of freshly baked pastries.

And yes... it's probably butter.