Bucharest pastry dispute prompts apologies from La Mita Biciclista co-founder

The pastry video in Piata Amzei

A public controversy unfolded in central Bucharest on 21 August 2026 after Edmond Niculușcă, founder of ARCEN and co-founder of the cultural venue La Mița Biciclista Stabiliment Creativ, published a video filmed in front of Patiseria Amzei. In the clip, Niculușcă mocked customers who buy traditional cheese pastries known as merdenele from the long-standing shop commonly called "la nea Mihai". He asserted that such consumers represented a specific "species" convinced that neighborhood pastry shops produce the finest goods, adding that they had likely tasted only margarine and cheese scraps throughout their lives. The statement provoked sharp online criticism, with users accusing the establishment of culinary elitism and class condescension.

Flashmob eating and student poll

Following the video, Bucharest residents initiated an informal counter-campaign by purchasing pastries from Patiseria Amzei and eating them directly outside La Mița Biciclista, situated approximately 150 meters away. A dedicated Facebook event titled "Savurăm o merdenea în față La Mița Biciclista" registered 711 interested participants, while food content creators, including Dan Has The Munchies with over 250,000 TikTok followers, posted videos eating traditional pastries outside the venue. Another gathering was scheduled for 29 August at 19:00 in Piața Amzei. The controversy extended to academic circles when the University of Bucharest published an online poll asking students how mashed potatoes should be prepared at the Mihail Kogălniceanu cafeteria.

Co-founders issue official apologies

On Friday evening, Edmond Niculușcă and co-founder Alberto Groșescu released a formal statement on the venue's Facebook page, acknowledging that their communication had failed to respect good neighborliness and good taste. Within an hour, the post generated more than 300 responses. Niculușcă followed with a personal message on Instagram taking full responsibility for the remarks, explaining that an impulsive temperament led him to set French gastronomy against a respected local figure.

Nea Mihai is a symbol of the market. I have long spoken about French gastronomy, but I was wrong to set it in opposition to a tradition and a local figure. Nea Mihai, I ask for your forgiveness!

Political reaction and cultural commentary

General Mayor of Bucharest Ciprian Ciucu responded publicly to Niculușcă's apology on Friday evening, noting that recognizing mistakes demonstrates good sense and stating that the city benefits from entrepreneurs who revitalize urban spaces.

I cannot imagine Bucharest without merdenele, but there is room for croissants too.

Commentators and academics also analyzed the dispute. SNSPA anthropology lecturer Monica Stroe observed in an essay that judging people based on food choices creates false divisions, noting that boundaries between fine dining and street food are blurring globally.