HEY I’m Corentin!
I moved to Ōtautahi in 2017 to transform my passion for food into a career. My journey to completing a diploma in Patisserie created many connections and opportunities for me here. Some of these include learning from the businesses I’ve had the pleasure of working for, making friends in the industry who continue to support me and encourage me, and winning gold at the 2019 Nestle’s Toque D’Or.
A global pandemic stopped me from moving overseas to gain experience — a career path expected from most young chefs in New Zealand. I created BUTTER out of a need for me to continue to develop my skills, showcase my creativity, and more importantly, to learn everything I can about pastry.
The food I make is the food I like to eat. Not everyday, but sometimes. It’s food to celebrate the special events in life with, and to share with the people we love.
Recent Press
Cuisine Magazine
“It’s taken just a year for Butter, the Christchurch-based business owned by Corentin Esquenet, to achieve success off the back of an Instagram feed full of exquisite French-inspired tarts, canelés…
Stuff.co.nz
“From Reims to Christchurch: Frenchman's pastries take off in New Zealand “Corentin Esquenet is the chef and face of Butter – a social media account posting high quality pictures and videos of…
MN UNIFORM
“Corentin is pastry chef who runs a business called BUTTER in Ōtautahi Christchurch. He draws on creativity from many fields making desserts inspired mostly by French patisseries. The food…
Story Bites
Corentin Esquenet, the chef behind BUTTER explains his passion for making traditionally inspired contemporary pastry. Such love is evident in the minutia of his creations. In this short documentary…