Alexandre will represent Belgium in the Best Pastry Chef competition (Brussels)
Marie Etchegoyen / M6
Alexandre Formica, sales representative from Hainaut, will be the Belgian participant in this edition of the Meilleur Pâtissier.
He is jovial, funny and passionate. Meeting with Alexandre, the Belgian candidate for this tenth season of the Best Pastry Chef.
The future: First and foremost chosen, who are you Alexandre?
Alexandre: My name is Alexandre, I am 29 years old and I am a sales manager in a company that sells professional kitchen equipment. I am from Bons Villers, a small rural town in Hainaut.
Pastry is not so far from professional cooking. Is your passion linked to your job?
AF: Not really. Baking came to me years ago, when I offered my family to make the dessert for the Christmas dinner. It was like a revelation, I’ve never stopped since. I read a lot, I practiced a lot and today I am proud to be able to participate in the Best Pastry Chef competition.
Until now, it has been necessary to keep the secret and not reveal anything. Wasn’t that too difficult?
Yes, it was horrible. It took a lie to hide this secret, but now it’s deliverance! It is a pleasure to see my loved ones and the public supporting me. I can’t wait to see the evolution of the adventure on TV, and especially how the audience will react. But I have no doubt about the support of the Belgians.
Speaking of Belgium, it seems that you are very attached to your country.
It’s true, I am really proud to be Belgian. This culture of the second degree, of self-mockery and surrealism, it’s something that is really close to my heart and that I tried to show during the filming. I hope to be a good ambassador for the flat country.
I hope to be a good representative of Belgian culture in humor, the second degree and kindness.
Viewers will be the first to discover your nickname in the episode: “Mich”. Where is he from ?
In this national culture, François Damiens is certainly the one who best embodies Belgian surrealism, in my opinion. I love to imitate him – viewers will quickly realize that – and one of his star characters is called Mich Mich, hence my nickname. But be careful, I prefer Mich period.
In the midst of all these clichés, aren’t you afraid that the public will not understand this second degree?
I sincerely hope that the audience will understand my character! During the shooting, I really tried to be what I am, “painting nature”. The Mich that audiences will see on TV is the one my family and loved ones know, without pretense or exaggeration. This is the advantage of this show, on is not in reality TV. The atmosphere is good-natured and the goal is not to give the participants a bad image.
For the tenth edition of the show, should viewers expect any surprises?
Yes, and not the least. For the first episode, we were surprised to face twenty participants, for only fourteen places inside the tent. A new elimination phase was triggered even before the start of the competition, which was quite stressful. This new season may be full of suspense, but I am sure the public will take great pleasure in following our gourmet adventures.