Taiwanese Pastry Chef at French Presidential Palace: Hsing Lun-yi Turns Skepticism into Motivation
Hsing Lun-yi, from Tainan, is a pastry chef at the Élysée Palace in France, serving President Macron. He was praised by former US President Biden for his dessert. He admits that in his 11 years at the presidential palace, he has faced skepticism but uses the noise as motivation.
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- 📰 Published: May 16, 2026 at 10:25
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Hsing Lun-yi, from Tainan, serves as a pastry chef at the Élysée Palace in France, devoting his skills daily to President Macron, and his desserts have even been praised by former US President Biden. He admits that in his 11 years working at the presidential palace, there has been no shortage of skepticism and negative opinions, and his way of dealing with them has been to view the noise as the driving force for motivation.
Minister Hsu Chia-ching of the Overseas Community Affairs Council of the Republic of China recently inspected overseas community affairs in Europe. During her stay in Paris, arranged by Ambassador to France Hao Pei-chih, Hsu visited the 'La Maison Élysée' cafe, located across the street from the Élysée Palace, to taste Hsing's desserts.
La Maison Élysée features exhibitions where visitors can learn about French history and the cultural heritage of the Élysée Palace through exhibits and images. The gift shop on the first floor sells various French-made products stamped with the Élysée Palace logo, while the second floor is a cafe, where Hsing is in charge of the dessert section.
Hsing is usually responsible for making the desserts enjoyed by President Macron and his wife, inflight meals when the President travels abroad, preparing state banquets for important foreign guests visiting France, and occasionally traveling for state-held activities.
Joe Biden visited Paris in 2024. One day at a banquet, he couldn't eat several dishes, but he finished the ice cream dessert and even asked for more, finally opening his mouth to ask, 'Who made this dessert?' Hsing was brought to attention all at once.
On the day Hsu Chia-ching and Hao Pei-chih's group visited, Hsing served several desserts, cutting and explaining them one by one. Among them, a blue, white, and red cake called 'Jardin d’hiver' (Winter Garden) is one of the signature desserts of La Maison Élysée.
The creative inspiration for this dessert comes from a greenhouse in the Élysée Palace. The greenhouse was completed in 1881, and artist Daniel Buren inlaid the blue, white, and red 3 colors symbolizing France on the glass roof in 2021. Light shines through the glass onto the room, forming colorful spots, which is impressive.
Born in 1986, Hsing came to France in 2012, first learned French, then entered the culinary school CEPROC and obtained a license. In 2015, he bravely brought his resume and portfolio to knock on the door of the heavily guarded Élysée Palace, obtained an internship opportunity, and based on his serious performance, obtained a formal employment contract, and was promoted to pastry chef in 2023.
Hsing told the Central News Agency reporter that he had never thought of working at the Élysée Palace for as long as 11 years, but his philosophy during this long period was to constantly improve himself as much as possible and pursue innovation.
Gourmet food is one of the greatest prides of the French, but the composition of the staff in the Élysée Palace kitchen is quite diverse. As a Taiwanese, Hsing admits that both before and after being promoted to pastry chef, he encountered skepticism or negative opinions. He believes that this noise cannot be eliminated, but 'I do myself well, these things will not hinder me, but instead are the motivation for me to rise upwards'.
Hsing has served two presidents, namely François Hollande, who left office in 2017, and the current President Macron; he revealed that President Macron and his wife eat very healthily in their dietary choices.
Hsu Chia-ching usually restricts sweets, but on this day, she praised Hsing's desserts, finishing everything.
In an interview, she said she encourages all Taiwanese businessmen or Taiwanese expatriates engaged in various industries to continue to express the uniqueness of Taiwanese people, 'I believe that Taiwan has its own uniqueness and our contribution to the world, I am deeply convinced of this'.
Minister Hsu Chia-ching of the Overseas Community Affairs Council of the Republic of China recently inspected overseas community affairs in Europe. During her stay in Paris, arranged by Ambassador to France Hao Pei-chih, Hsu visited the 'La Maison Élysée' cafe, located across the street from the Élysée Palace, to taste Hsing's desserts.
La Maison Élysée features exhibitions where visitors can learn about French history and the cultural heritage of the Élysée Palace through exhibits and images. The gift shop on the first floor sells various French-made products stamped with the Élysée Palace logo, while the second floor is a cafe, where Hsing is in charge of the dessert section.
Hsing is usually responsible for making the desserts enjoyed by President Macron and his wife, inflight meals when the President travels abroad, preparing state banquets for important foreign guests visiting France, and occasionally traveling for state-held activities.
Joe Biden visited Paris in 2024. One day at a banquet, he couldn't eat several dishes, but he finished the ice cream dessert and even asked for more, finally opening his mouth to ask, 'Who made this dessert?' Hsing was brought to attention all at once.
On the day Hsu Chia-ching and Hao Pei-chih's group visited, Hsing served several desserts, cutting and explaining them one by one. Among them, a blue, white, and red cake called 'Jardin d’hiver' (Winter Garden) is one of the signature desserts of La Maison Élysée.
The creative inspiration for this dessert comes from a greenhouse in the Élysée Palace. The greenhouse was completed in 1881, and artist Daniel Buren inlaid the blue, white, and red 3 colors symbolizing France on the glass roof in 2021. Light shines through the glass onto the room, forming colorful spots, which is impressive.
Born in 1986, Hsing came to France in 2012, first learned French, then entered the culinary school CEPROC and obtained a license. In 2015, he bravely brought his resume and portfolio to knock on the door of the heavily guarded Élysée Palace, obtained an internship opportunity, and based on his serious performance, obtained a formal employment contract, and was promoted to pastry chef in 2023.
Hsing told the Central News Agency reporter that he had never thought of working at the Élysée Palace for as long as 11 years, but his philosophy during this long period was to constantly improve himself as much as possible and pursue innovation.
Gourmet food is one of the greatest prides of the French, but the composition of the staff in the Élysée Palace kitchen is quite diverse. As a Taiwanese, Hsing admits that both before and after being promoted to pastry chef, he encountered skepticism or negative opinions. He believes that this noise cannot be eliminated, but 'I do myself well, these things will not hinder me, but instead are the motivation for me to rise upwards'.
Hsing has served two presidents, namely François Hollande, who left office in 2017, and the current President Macron; he revealed that President Macron and his wife eat very healthily in their dietary choices.
Hsu Chia-ching usually restricts sweets, but on this day, she praised Hsing's desserts, finishing everything.
In an interview, she said she encourages all Taiwanese businessmen or Taiwanese expatriates engaged in various industries to continue to express the uniqueness of Taiwanese people, 'I believe that Taiwan has its own uniqueness and our contribution to the world, I am deeply convinced of this'.