Red Hill welcomes Atelier Mimi, a family-run patisserie with international roots
Worldly experience meets neighbourhood spirit at Atelier Mimi. Inside a cosy Red Hill shopfront, French-inspired pastries and macarons are crafted with Japanese precision and a distinctly family-led touch. Come and take a peek inside …
Paul Benetti’s 15-year resume reads like a who’s who of Australian and Japanese patisseries.
While living in Melbourne, Paul honed traditional French techniques at local icons like Noisette and Laurent Bakery. Then, alongside his partner Miki, Paul embarked on a six-year stint in Japan, where he elevated his craft at world-renowned institutions such as Ladurée, Pierre Hermé and Sadaharu Aoki.
With a pedigree like this, Paul could have had his pick of pastry chef jobs just about anywhere – but that was never his end goal. Upon returning to Brisbane in 2022, Paul worked as head pastry chef at Brisbane City Hall while he and Miki plotted their next move – a family-operated shop where they could give the people of Brisbane something from the heart.
Atelier Mimi opened in the leafy heart of Red Hill in January, with the Benettis taking over a sunlit corner shop on Arthur Terrace, previously home to One Eighty Six Espresso Bar.
“I would say it took about a year to really find the right place,” reveals Paul. “We were looking for a nice shop like this one, with high visibility and character. That’s why we love this one.”
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Atelier Mimi is bright and welcoming. The cosy abode features seating inside and out, with a small counter housing the shop’s cake and pastry display alongside a coffee machine. Here, it’s all about small batches of meticulously crafted goodies – tarts, cakes, macarons and pastries – each blending French technique and Japanese precision.
Underpinning it all, though, is a sense of familial warmth that acts as the binding agent bringing the community together.
“That’s really the spirit that we want to show our customers, and that’s why we decided to call the shop Atelier Mimi,” reveals Paul. “Atelier because we like both Japanese and French craftsmanship, and Mimi for our daughter – that’s her nickname.”
Though the in-house kitchen is considerably smaller than those Paul has worked in throughout his career, Atelier Mimi’s pint-sized stature has allowed the chef to trim his menu down to a tight selection – all killer, no filler.
Subscribe for updates“I only have one bench, so I can’t make a lot of stuff,” admits Paul. “That’s why I’m making small quantities and small products – it’s always fresh.”
On any given day, Atelier Mimi’s cabinet is filled with a colourful assortment of confections, from delicate macarons and fruit-filled tarts to biscuits and cakes.
“It’s French classical – not too fancy – sometimes with a Japanese twist,” says Paul of the range. “I want to keep some products all year, but I want to play with the seasonality, too. I’m also planning to include some local products – native ingredients like Davidson plums.”
Highlights of the range include silky-smooth flans laced with generous amounts of bourbon vanilla, passionfruit-curd tarts and chocolate delice. Savoury options include small gourmet sandwiches and select pastries, though Paul reveals that croissants play second fiddle to the patisserie treats.
“There are other places already doing pastries very well, so that’s why we wanted to be more focused on macarons, biscuits and cakes,” says Paul.
Speaking of macarons and biscuits, Atelier Mimi offers customised macarons (which are gluten-free) for special events, while bags of cookies are available to take away.
Coffee is supplied by specialty roaster Seven Miles Coffee Roasters, available alongside Hrvst St juices and iced chocolates made using house-made ganache.
Though tucked away in the middle of the suburbs, it’s unlikely Atelier Mimi will remain a hidden secret for long. Head to The Directory for operating hours and other important details.