ASTROCHEFS, Taurus Edition, ft. FLORIAN BELLANGER
Naturally, Taurus is the second feature in our ASTROCHEF series!
Astro-Chefs, Taurus Edition: Florian Bellanger
Florian Bellanger is a world-renowned French pastry chef who is accredited with popularizing the colorful, divine and airy pastry, the macaron. He became a familiar face as a primary judge on Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, costarring along with Candace Nelson, owner of the famed Sprinkles Cupcakes. Florian owns Mad Mac Macaron, a high-end New York City bakery, which specializes in the delicate, yet luxurious, macarons and madeleines. Florian was born on April 20th, 1968 in Paris, France – the exact day that the Sun moved from Aries to Taurus. Without a birth time, I had no way of knowing for sure, but I had good reason to believe that this extraordinary pastry chef who has made a career elevating desserts would undoubtedly be a Taurus. But just to be certain, I reached out to Florian and asked him for his birthtime. He gave me a birth time of 6 pm, confirming for certain that he is a Taurus!
Very Venusian
Both Florian’s Taurus Sun and Libra Ascendant are ruled by the planet of beauty, Venus. In the earth sign of Taurus, beauty is experienced through the 5 senses of the body, and for Florian, his relationship with beauty is best captured in his superior sense of taste, his eye for color and in the eye-candy of presentation. Libra is a most charming air sign, so Venusian beauty here is primarily experienced through relationships: Florian’s pathway to success was supported largely by the relationships he built along the way with prestigious pastry chefs.
Florian’s father was a talented cook, but sweets were never kept in the house. To satisfy a demanding sweet tooth, Florian began baking at an early age – what began as a clever loophole quickly developed into a passion. For a Taurus, if there is a will, there is a way! Around the age of 10, Florian developed an allergy to chocolate, but not even this allergy could keep him from his one true love: sweets. Florian admits that he enjoyed eating chocolate so much, that he was never eating just a small piece of chocolate. It was always large quantities of chocolate, which led him to become sick for a few days after. Florian’s Venus is in none other than impulsive Aries – a sign that refuses to tone down its true self. “Here I am, world! Like it or not!” A Venus Aries lives moment to moment, and doesn’t care much about the consequences of their desires. Obviously, young Florian was willing to make such sacrifices to satisfy that sweet tooth!
Florian’s Venus in Aries rules his entire chart, which has given him a sense of adventure, a willingness to take risks – but with a conjunction to Saturn, these risks are very calculated, and with good reason behind them. Florian applied to one of Paris’ most prestigious baking schools at the young age of 14½. He was rejected for being too young, but was accepted once he was 16 (solar arc Venus moves into Taurus, sign of rulership) and graduated with a specialized background in ice cream and chocolate. Every young man in France had to complete a mandatory 1-year term in the military; Florian was clever enough to sign up before he was enlisted, strategizing that he could get it over with sooner and get a job in a bakery asap! (Do NOT make an Aries wait.) The military noted that he was a baker and he landed the gig as the in-house pastry chef for the French military in French Guyana.
Lucky Me - Stationary Jupiter
His residency overseas permanently bit him with the travel bug. Florian has also worked in Israel, Qatar (where he met and married his first wife), Paris (obvi) and now he currently resides in the United States. This love of culture and travel can be explained by his powerful stationary Jupiter, which is also trine his 7th house Mercury (his 9th house ruler). That stationary Jupiter also gives Florian a fantastic lucky streak – in particular, being in the right place at the right time. Read more about the synchronicities of Florian’s career here. Jupiter lands in his 11th house of friends/network – and boy does he have an impressive contact list and resume! Traditionally, Jupiter in the 11th house is in its joy – so, yes, this is an extremely lucky placement! In a partile square to Neptune, there is truly no limit to where his dreams can take him.
Innovative Aquarius Moon
If you’re one of the world’s most renowned pastry chefs, there’s no one you could trust more with your chocolate recipes than a Taurus with an Aquarius Moon! Pierre Hermé, the “Picasso of Pastry,” as dubbed by French Vogue, promised to hire young Florian under the condition that he reworked Fauchon’s chocolate recipes. I’d say that interview went well, eh!? For those of you that don’t know, Fauchon, is a famed gourmet pastry boutique in Paris that looks more like a high-end make-up counter than a bakery. Honestly, this place couldn’t get more Venusian with its glamour, inviting displays of decadent sweets, and chic packaging. Have a look for yourself! And to complement Florian’s Venus/Saturn conjunction, Fauchon has been in business since 1886.
To take a sturdy and successful recipe and to elevate it with a modern twist is descriptively Aquarian! Florian’s Aquarius Moon rules his Midheaven, his career point and the most publicly visible part of his chart. Florian went on to help another highly decorated chef, Alain Ducasse, adjust his chocolate recipes as well. Alain was the first chef to have 3 of his restaurants awarded 3 Michelin stars apiece… at the same time! That’s how skilled and passionate Florian is when it comes to chocolate. When Fauchon opened its NYC Flagship store, Florian left Le Bernardin (awarded 3 Michelin stars during Florian’s residency as head pastry chef) to run the store, where his Aquarius Moon began to truly take center stage. Florian pushed the limits of pastry tradition by cultivating éclairs flavored with orange zest, passion fruit or coconut, raspberry marshmallow cake (not your average chocolate and cream!). Florian created Toulouse violet ice cream and raspberry-chili pepper sorbet and luxurious towering cakes which constantly tested the limits of possibility.
Florian was named one of the Top 10 Pastry Chefs in America in 2003 and 2004, as well as a lifetime achievement award in 2013. So accomplished, and yet very humble – another gift from his Aquarius Moon. Perhaps it’s Florian’s Aquarius Moon that brings him back to the judging panel in the US Pastry Competition each year. He clearly has an immense love for his industry and for the continual betterment of it. You will always find Aquarian energy on the board of any organization!
Future
What’s next for this highly talented (and decorated) chef? Transiting Uranus is wrapping up a conjunction with Florian’s Sun, reigniting his creative spark, and awakening Florian to yet even more possibilities for his soul to shine in the world. Uranus brings big changes and keeps us alert. Florian recently got married, and there is no greater inspiration than a full heart. Transiting Saturn anchors a new cycle at the IC of Florian’s chart, which the eclipses have their way with his MC/IC axis. Simultaneously, solar arc Neptune anchors a new dream, a new vision at the IC. The IC is where potent seeds are planted, as well as an indicator of a current focus on home and family. Behind the scenes, Florian is cooking up his next big career moves, and I cannot wait to see what he brings forth this time!
Connect with Florian on Instagram @fbellanger