What is an entremet? A guide from La Paris

If you have not come across the word before, an entremet is a French layered cake built the opposite way from how most cakes are made. Instead of stacking sponge and frosting on top of each other after baking, an entremet is assembled upside down in a mold — mousse, a thin cake or biscuit base, sometimes a fruit or crémeux insert — then unmolded and finished with a mirror glaze or a velvet spray, which is what gives it that smooth, almost lacquered surface. The result is lighter than a classic frosted cake, with distinct layers of texture and flavor in every slice rather than one dominant taste. Our signature entremets Some of ours read like a flavor pairing you would find in any French pâtisserie — Black Florest (our take on Black Forest, rebuilt in entremet form), Caramelia, New York, Osaka and Bergamot each built around two or three ingredients that are meant to be tasted in layers rather than blended into one. Our zodiac and celebration collection Alongside those, we also make a themed collection tied to Vietnamese celebrations and the zodiac: Bánh Vũ Lân - Danse du Lion, Bánh Nguyệt Thố - Lapin de Lune, Bánh Phúc Trư - Petit cochon and Bánh Dạ Đăng - Lanterne Rouge. These are the ones we get asked about most, since the shape and decoration usually come before the flavor in the conversation — which is exactly the point of an entremet: it is built to be looked at as much as eaten. When to order one Because of how they are built, entremets need to be ordered ahead rather than picked off a shelf — for a birthday, a wedding, or a corporate gift where presentation matters as much as taste. Let us know the occasion and the number of guests and we can help you pick a size and flavor.