Pastry artist Inès Chatti on bringing together heritage, emotion and innovation to create experiences that go far beyond taste

For pastry artist Inès Chatti, cooking has always been about more than taste. It is rooted in memory and emotion, shaped by her own personal experiences. The half-French, half-Tunisian culinary expert has built her career on the idea that refined pastry techniques can exist alongside instinctive creativity, blending the elegance of French pâtisserie with the aromatic richness of her heritage.

Her journey into the culinary world was anything but expected. Originally pursuing a career in criminal law, Inès was driven by a desire to understand systems and confront injustice. Yet something more immediate and human called her elsewhere. “What cooking gave me was the ability to make people happy in the most direct way imaginable,” she reflects. “With nothing more than simple ingredients and skilled hands, you can create a moment of pure joy.” It was this realisation that led her to leave law behind and fully commit to pastry, enrolling in school in 2015 and immersing herself in the discipline of professional kitchens.

Those early years were far from easy. Kitchens could be unforgiving, particularly for a young woman entering a traditionally male-dominated space. “Humiliation was daily currency,” she says of one of her first roles, recalling the physical and emotional demands placed upon her. Yet rather than deter her, the experience became formative. “If you can endure that and still wake up each morning with your passion and conviction intact, you can succeed anywhere.” It is a resilience that continues to shape her approach today, both in her work and in how she leads her growing team.

Her time at Maison Pic, under the direction of Anne-Sophie Pic, allowed her to refine her craft, instilling a level of precision and discipline that would become foundational. “When you make a deliberate choice to change careers and set your sights on the very highest level, you enter those kitchens with your eyes open,” she explains. It was here, in one of the world’s most demanding culinary environments, that she learned to navigate pressure with clarity, drawing unexpectedly on her legal training to think analytically and remain focused even in the most intense moments.

Today, that same clarity informs the philosophy behind her brand. Inès does not follow trends; her creations are unique and inspired by her own personal experiences.  “My creations are deeply autobiographical,” she says. “Each one begins with a feeling, a flavour stored somewhere in my mind, and then I ask myself: what story can I tell through this combination?” This approach has led to a signature style defined by unexpected flavour pairings, aromatic plants and a careful balance that prioritises nuance over excess.

Her dual heritage plays an integral role in shaping this perspective. “I am, in every sense, the product of two worlds,” she reflects. Rather than viewing this as a divide, she sees it as a freedom, an openness to discovery that allows her to move fluidly between influences. It is this sensibility that gives her work its distinct voice, one that feels both rooted and expansive, familiar yet entirely new.

Building Inès Chatti Pâtisserie in the UAE has marked a new chapter for her. For years, she balanced a full-time role with the demands of launching her own venture, working long hours while continuing to put the effort in. “When you know exactly where you are headed, you do not pause to weigh the sacrifices,” she says. The response from her clients quickly affirmed that vision, with word-of-mouth driving exponential growth and leading to collaborations with some of the world’s most recognised luxury houses.

Yet even as the business expands, her focus remains deeply personal. “I want every person who tastes something from Inès Chatti Pâtisserie to feel transported,” she explains. “To be genuinely surprised, moved, delighted by something they could not have anticipated.” It is this pursuit of emotion, of creating something that resonates beyond taste, that continues to define her work.

Looking ahead, Inès envisions a space where her creations can be fully experienced, an environment designed to immerse guests in her world. It is a natural evolution for a brand built on storytelling, one that extends beyond the pastry itself into something more expansive and considered.

For now, her journey continues to unfold with the same curiosity that first led her into the kitchen. “Curiosity is my engine,” she says simply.