THE Perth community celebrated the life of former Choux Café owner Emmanuel Mollois at a special event in Swanbourne on Wednesday.
The popular pastry chef, who called Perth home for many years, lost his battle with cancer in France last week.
Mollois, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in November 2014, had been in remission but sadly relapsed.
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READ NOWHis friends, part of the Les Copains group, have paid tribute to the jovial chef, and have set up a Go Fund Me page to raise money for Sock it to Sarcoma, a cause close Mollois.
They also hope to raise enough money to bring his family back to Perth to relive memories.
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“Emmanuel touched many of our lives, be it at his restaurant or cafe, during his cooking courses, with his books or on TV, or in just trying to catch up with him on his bicycle,” a spokesman of the group said.
“To others, he was part of our extended family in Australia.
“In their time of need, we would like to express how much Emmanuel meant to us.
“Many of the happy memories Emmanuel’s children have of their father are here in Perth.
“We would like to raise $5000 towards a trip to Australia for Gordana and the kids when the time is right… to relive the memories of their dad and strengthen old bonds they made during their time here, something for the kids to look forward to in their darkest hour.”
As well as being well known in the Perth food industry, having opened Bistro de Artistes in Subiaco and worked at The Loose Box, Le Paris Brest Parisserie Francaise, Mollois also published two cookbooks Et Voila and Patissier and appeared on the television show Poh’s Kitchen.
He leaves behind his wife Gordana and three young children Zlatan, Louis and Maya.