Two dry meringues joined with whipped cream, coated all over in more cream and rolled in chocolate shavings, sometimes topped with a candied cherry.
The merveilleux is Belgian by origin and was reworked in French Flanders, where the Hazebrouck pastry chef Roger Mouille made a lighter version bound with whipped cream rather than buttercream. Frederic Vaucamps built a business on it, opening the first Aux Merveilleux de Fred on Rue de la Monnaie in Lille in 1997 before the brand reached Paris, London and New York. The northern French variants sometimes swap the whipped cream for chocolate buttercream and are formed as spheres rather than cylinders. Speculoos, coffee and cherry versions are all standard.
3 editor picks for Merveilleux in Lille, ranked by editorial score. All Lille signature dishes · Merveilleux across every city.
Aux Merveilleux de Fred (Rue de la Monnaie) ★ 4.5
Vieux-Lille · 67 Rue de la Monnaie, 59800 Lille
Aux Merveilleux de Fred started on Rue de la Monnaie in Lille, and this counter still sells the meringue and cream pastry that gave the brand its name.
Aux Merveilleux de Fred (Wazemmes) ★ 4.3
Gambetta · 336 Rue Léon Gambetta, 59800 Lille
The Wazemmes branch of Aux Merveilleux de Fred on Rue Léon Gambetta in Lille opens at 06:30, earlier than the Vieux-Lille shop, and sells the same range.
Aux Merveilleux de Fred (Gare Lille Flandres) ★ 4.2
Lille-Centre · 1 Place des Buisses, 59800 Lille
The Place des Buisses branch of Aux Merveilleux de Fred sits beside Lille Flandres station, open from 06:00 and stocked with merveilleux and cramique.