A street patissier from Baldock is looking to mix up the North Herts food scene with his hand-crafted French-style delicacies.

Simon Northcott has been selling choux pastry buns under the name Choux Stopper since August, and is a regular at the Hitchin Farmers’ Market on the last Saturday of each month.

“Having been a fan of good quality street food myself, I was aware that there was a distinct lack of creativity and choice what it came down to dessert options,” the 40-year-old said.

“I make every element on the menu, from the salted caramel to the candied lemon. I love what I do and am very passionate that what I put out there has to be of the very best quality.

“That is so important to me and is the philosophy behind Choux Stopper.”

Simon is due to take his creations down to the street food markets of London later in the year, and has also lined up a high tea event at The Radcliffe in Hitchin on Sunday, April 3.

“This will be Choux Stopper and The Radcliffe working together for a special event and menu,” said Simon.

“Obviously Choux Stopper is all about choux buns, but I am a pastry chef so this gives me an opportunity to play around making other bits too.

“I’ll be serving some really beautiful cakes and desserts.

“I don’t think there are many places that you can get a high tea around Hitchin town centre.”

The Radcliffe’s Nicky Craven is looking forward to collaborating with Simon. “It’s a co-host that my people will be working on as well,” she said.

“It’s going to be an afternoon tea from 2.30pm to 5pm. Simon will do his choux buns and sweet stuff, and The Radcliffe will do sandwiches and so on.

“It was Simon’s idea – he’d said he’d like to do something in Hitchin, and I’d come across him at the Hitchin Food Festival and thought it seemed like something nice and different.

“It’s the first time we’ve done something like this at The Radcliffe. We’ll see how it goes and maybe we’ll do more in the future.”

For more information see chouxstopper.co.uk.