Unofficial concept by Strykia. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Caramel French Patisserie.To order, call (978) 594-0244
CaramelFrench patisserie · 281 Essex Street, Salem

French pastry from a family that has baked since 1931.

Dimitri and Sophie Vallier have run Caramel since 2015. Dimitri trained in France as a pâtissier, chocolatier and confiseur.

Visit today Order a whole cake

Twelve to fifteen desserts in the case, every day.

These are the classics. Each is also made as a whole cake to order. The two the shop names as its best sellers are the Royal au Chocolat and the Sophie.

  • Royal au Chocolatchocolate mousse, almond dacquoise, chocolate mirror glazeBest seller
  • Opéraalmond sponge, coffee and chocolate, in thin layers
  • The Sophieraspberry and blueberry mousse on an almond financierNamed for the chef’s sister
  • Tarte au Citron Meringuéelemon tart under meringue
  • Le Flan Parisienthe Paris bakery custard tart
  • And alongsideéclairs, tiramisu and cheesecakes

Ten macarons, all gluten-free.

Made from scratch. Buy them one at a time, or in a box of six or twelve. For a wedding or a party, ask about a macaron pyramid.

    By the piece, or boxed in 6 or 12.

    Macaron pyramids for events, by custom order.

    The morning case.

    The shop opens at 8 on weekdays. This is the viennoiserie and bread a French bakery opens with.

    • Croissantbutter
    • Pain au chocolatchocolate
    • Croissant aux amandesalmond
    • Chausson aux pommesapple turnover
    • Palmiercaramelised puff pastry
    • Pain aux raisinsraisin swirl
    • Kouign amannBreton butter cake
    • Fruit tartsapricot, pear or apple, fresh
    • Baguettethe traditional French loaf

    Whole cakes, ten business days ahead.

    The classics are made as whole cakes in two sizes. Custom orders are taken by email, at least ten business days before you need them.

    8-inchserves 6 to 8
    10-inchserves 8 to 10
    • Gluten-free and nut-free options for catering orders. For the case, call to ask what’s in today.
    • Pick-up only. Caramel doesn’t ship or deliver.
    • Catering requests go through the form on Caramel’s own website.

    Write your order email

    This fills in an email to Caramel in your own mail app. Nothing is sent from this page.

    Please allow at least ten business days.

    From Saint-Jean-en-Royans to Essex Street.

    Dimitri Vallier comes from a long line of pastry chefs from the Ardèche. He trained in France in all three of the old sweet trades, and early in his career worked with Paul Bocuse, Gaston Lenôtre and Daniel Boulud.

    In 2015 he came back to the place in America where he had gone to high school, and opened Caramel in Salem. His sister Sophie runs the shop front.

    PâtissierChocolatierConfiseur
    1. 1931Their great-grandfather opens a bakery in Saint-Jean-en-Royans, France.
    2. 2015Caramel opens on Essex Street, Salem, in October.
    3. TodaySalem is the only Caramel. A second shop in Somerville closed in 2022.
    « Pour bien cuisiner il faut de bons ingrédients, un palais, du cœur et des amis. »
    To cook well you need good ingredients, a palate, a heart, and friends. Caramel’s motto.

    281 Essex Street, Salem.

    On the historic cobblestone stretch of Essex Street. Walk in; no order needed for the case.

    (978) 594-0244

    Rated 4.6 from 259 reviews on Restaurantji, October 2026.

    Tuesday
    8 am – 6 pm
    Wednesday
    8 am – 6 pm
    Thursday
    8 am – 6 pm
    Friday
    8 am – 6 pm
    Saturday
    9 am – 6 pm
    Sunday
    9 am – 5 pm