One of the French Riviera’s most revered patisserie chefs, Lilian Bonnefoi, has surprised children at Easter in the village of Antibes with a kind and thoughtful gesture.
It started when the former Head Pastry Chef at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc set out to celebrate children’s imagination with a simple idea: an Easter drawing competition. Bonnefoi himself has won several awards during his career, including the Michelin Guide’s 2022 Passion Dessert prize.
Young participants were invited to create a drawing inspired by Easter or the Maison Lilian Bonnefoi, and submit their artwork to one of his Antibes boutiques. The prize was designed to be unforgettable – a behind-the-scenes experience inside the award-winning chef’s chocolate atelier, where one lucky winner, selected in a draw, would create a personalised chocolate bar alongside the chef and his master chocolatier.
It was a thoughtful concept, carefully planned. But when the time came to review the drawings, something shifted.
“The special Easter drawing contest for our youngest children brought us a truly moving experience,” Bonnefoi announced on its Instagram page. “Upon discovering your children’s creations, Lilian Bonnefoi and our entire team were deeply touched by their spontaneity and poetic spirit.”
Faced with such individuality, choosing a single winner no longer felt possible. So they changed the outcome entirely.
Every child who entered the competition has been named a Grand Prize winner.
Instead of one invitation, each participant will now be welcomed into the atelier to transform their drawing into a personalised chocolate bar – complete with their chosen name. These eager young artists and chocolate-lovers will get to share a moment of craftsmanship with Lilian Bonnefoi and take home their own customised chocolate!
The workshop will take place on Wednesday, 1 April 2026, with each child accompanied by an adult. Parents will be contacted directly within the next few days to confirm the details.
The response in comments on Instagram from families has been immediate and heartfelt – messages of surprise, gratitude, and children already counting down the days.
Lilian Bonnefoi may be known for his patisserie savoir-faire, but here, it is the heart behind the chocolate that lingers.
WATCH Lilian Bonnefoi reveal who has won the Easter drawing competition
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