Sanjana Patel shares a special relationship with chocolate – one of reverence, love and discovery. As the Creative Director and Executive Chef at La Folie, she showcases her passion for chocolate in a plethora of original, haute couture-style renditions of French delicacies. With knowledge and expertise refined for over two decades, today Sanjana is a revolutionary force in the art of modern pastry and chocolate-making. In her latest pursuit to discover an authentic expression of real chocolate, Sanjana has transformed from a chocolatier to a bean-to-bar chocolate maker. Her quest for the finest-origin beans has led her to cacao farms across four continents. A staunch follower of ethical trade, Sanjana’s creations brim with exuberant, natural flavours and her intense desire to share the magnificence of real chocolate. At heart, she is a passionate artist. The plate is her canvas. She paints it with flavour-strokes honed at the reputed École Grégoire Ferrandi in Paris and then, as an apprentice with Pierre Hermé. Her résumé includes stints with global heavyweights such as Patrick Roger, Olivier Bajard, and Chefs Christophe Michalak and Alain Ducasse (at Hotel Plaza Athénée in the Dorchester Collection). With her immense talent, Sanjana has attained national and global accolades, including the titles of ‘India’s Pastry Queen’ (2015) and the ‘4th Best Pastry Chef for 2016’ at the World Pastry Queen Competition. But rather than resting on her laurels, you’ll always find Sanjana engrossed in pushing the envelope of creativity and planning her next avant-garde creation.