L’Opéra was registered on October 14, 2008, and last year completed its first 10 years of existence. This has been a wonderful journey all along. As life is, with its inevitable ups and downs but highly gratifying and rewarding. From an idea and a dream of Laurent Samandari to one of the most respected and appreciated brands in India’s F&B landscape, in such a short time.
The menu of L’Opéra has significantly changed from only a few baguettes and macarons which were home-delivered before the flagship store opened at Khan Market, New Delhi to today where they produce every day over 150 different bakery, pastry and savoury products. They currently carry some 1,000 SKUs. These are unique products which are produced either on a daily basis, seasonally, or on order, in different shapes or size or have been replaced with new ones.
Ingredients are essential to the business and to the quality of the final products which are sacred and remain at the core of the business. This is what L’Opéra is all about. They are absolutely meticulous about what raw materials they use. They never compromise about their quality. Preferably, they chose products of Indian origin which are locally available, however, if those ingredients fail to satisfy the stringent quality criteria, they use imported products to ensure consistency and highest standards of taste and shape of the final products.
L’Opéra sees and defines itself as the most authentic French Bakery, Pastry and Salon de Thé and can therefore not change its raison d’être and the nature of its products. However, over the years, they have identified those products which are more suitable to the Indian pallet and have developed a range of eggless offerings for the Indian customers. During this festive Season, for instance, they introduced a limited edition of macarons which were specially created to suit the Indian taste. Their Nutty Caramel and Sacher are wonderful examples of how the creativity of their Executive Chef has allowed them to develop eggless pastries which remain true to French traditions.
France prides itself to be a source of culture. This certainly includes culinary culture. Over the years L’Opéra has enchanted its patrons with its delicious pastries, bread and savoury items. They are now embarking on a new journey whereby they want the customers not only to enjoy the products in the privacy of their homes but to live the French Salon de Thé experience in the unique spaces they are creating for them which transports the visitors to the heart of the capital in Paris. They have been working for a long time on the new concepts which they are presenting today.
L’Opéra is absolutely committed to quality, consistency and authenticity of its products and to continuous innovation. Respect of its customers and staff and a long-term view of the business avoiding the temptation of taking short-cuts at the expense of the company’s long-term goals and objectives are essential to its philosophy. L’Opéra’s Indian customers and patrons are mature and enlightened, they know very well how to recognise and reward quality and authenticity with their loyalty. L’Opéra has just embarked on a major innovation and expansion programme which will include opening half a dozen L’Opéra Salon de Thé outlets in Delhi-NCR before taking the brand to other metro cities. They have recently opened Salon the Thé at the Green Park Market, New Delhi. This beautifully designed and executed project takes the patrons right to the heart of Paris. Great attention has been paid to every detail of design and decoration. Besides the elegant counters which display delightful L’Opéra products, the space is divided into three distinct sectors: a Parisian café with familiar bistro furniture, a comfortable transitional area with French semi-modern and classic decoration furniture and finally a wood panelled room with comfortable sofa and chairs which provides the necessary intimacy for enjoying light meals and entertaining family, friends and business partners.
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