The Patisserie on Main
Chef Edouard Fenouil Brings French Elegance to Madison
I travel to France often and have developed a discerning palate for pastries. When I walk into a bakery, I’m immediately analyzing everything – the golden flake of a croissant, the balance of butter and sugar, and whether the fruit fillings taste of orchards or extract. So when I tell you that one of the best French-style patisseries I’ve found is not in Paris – or even Atlanta – you might be surprised to learn it’s tucked away in the charming small town of Madison.
A Taste of France on Main Street
Located on South Main Street in Madison’s historic downtown, The Patisserie on Main looks like it was plucked straight out of a French village. The bakery’s façade, with its blue-and-cream awning, immediately invites you in. Inside, sunlight streams through large windows onto marble countertops and a gleaming pastry case that looks like a jewel box – lined with buttery croissants, artfully piped éclairs, and glossy fruit tarts that sparkle like stained glass.
The scent alone – of warm brioche, vanilla bean, and caramelizing sugar – could make any passerby stop in their tracks. Locals do just that, many greeting Chef Edouard Fenouil by name as they pick up their morning coffee and pastry.
The French-Southern Connection
Born in the Chamonix region of France and classically trained, Chef Fenouil brings a meticulous French sensibility to his creations, blending it with a dash of Southern warmth. Before joining MAD Hospitality in Madison, he refined his art in the kitchens of Paris, London, and the United States, including prestigious hotels and fine-dining restaurants. Atlantans may remember him from his time as executive pastry chef at Alon’s Bakery & Market and the Ritz-Carlton in Atlanta.
Chef Fenouil’s long friendship with MAD Hospitality proprietor Preston Snyder and his wife Cindi Fetch (whom he met when both worked in Atlanta’s restaurant scene) made Madison a natural next chapter. “Here, I can walk to work and greet everyone who walks in,” he says, smiling. “It feels like home.”
What to Order
Each pastry reflects the precision and artistry of French patisserie – layered textures, clean flavors, and stunning presentation.
- Croissants: perfectly laminated with hundreds of buttery layers, shattering delicately when bitten.
- Chocolate éclairs: filled with silky vanilla or chocolate crème pâtissière and finished with a mirror glaze so glossy it reflects the light.
- Tartes aux fruits: seasonal gems topped with fresh raspberries, strawberries, or caramelized apples – never overly sweet, always fresh and fragrant.
- Macarons: light as air, in flavors like pistachio, passionfruit, and salted caramel.
- Breads: baguettes and pain de champagne that rival those in Paris.
For breakfast, you can enjoy a cappuccino with a warm almond croissant at one of the café tables, watching Madison’s quiet Main Street come to life. By afternoon, the bakery fills with locals grabbing pastries for dessert or parents treating kids after school.
Photo credits: Roland Alonzi, CONTENTO
Seasonal & Holiday Specials
Throughout the year, The Patisserie celebrates holidays with festive flair. At Easter, you’ll find hand-painted chocolate bunnies and pastel-colored macarons; in the fall, delicate tartlets, spiced apple galettes and a variety of Thanksgiving pies and cakes; and during the holidays, the pièce de résistance – a traditional Bûche de Noël (Yule Log) that is a big seller each December. Valentine’s Day brings heart-shaped confections filled with raspberry mousse, while summer features fruit-forward treats like lemon meringue tartlets and strawberry shortcake croissants.
The Charm of Small-Town France in Georgia
Chef Fenouil has created more than a bakery – he’s brought a slice of France to small-town Georgia. The Patisserie on Main is both a neighborhood gathering spot and a culinary destination, drawing visitors from Atlanta and beyond. It’s a place where craftsmanship, community, and creativity come together beautifully – proof that you don’t have to cross the Atlantic to enjoy the taste of authentic French indulgence.
