Les Marquis de Ladurée

Les Marquis de Ladurée

The windows of Paris never disappoint and

Les Marquis de Ladurée displayed

exotic birds of organza and wire

(Hint: If you have trouble getting

photos of windows without a reflection,

try an evening photo shoot.)

Les Marquis de Ladurée

14, rue de Castiglione

75001, Paris

Oeufs en Chocolat

In preparation of Pâques (Easter)

you will find the windows of

pâtisseries and boulangeries filled

with their specialties of the season.

Au Levain du Marais

28, boulevard Beaumarchais

75011, Paris

Aux Merveilleux de Fred

et voila!

Aux Merveilleux de Fred

"Fred" is Frédérick Vaucamps and his pastry shops are described as

"A visual and olfactory experience, the Merveilleux are made in

front of the customer in each of the stores."

So what is this Merveilleux? In a variety of versions

the core is a feather-light meringue coated in chocolate whipped cream with 

shavings of dark chocolate.  Miam-miam!

He has given each of the varieties fanciful names:

The Incroyable, the Impensable, the Magnifique, the Excentrique,

 and the Sans-Culotte.  Read more about these shops here

Aux Merveilleux de Fred

29, rue de l'Annonciation

75016, Paris

Un mystère

...continued from yesterday's post

She has rolled the creamy substance from the 

bowl into balls.  Wonder if she feels the pressure

creating this "marvelous" concoction in the viewing window?

75017, Paris

La tentation

Temptation

Can you get so close to your 

screen that you can almost taste these?

At least there is fruit

so it must be healthy!

Miam-miam

Rue Mouffetard

75005, Paris

Eric Kayser

Eric Kayser

There are so many amazing pastries in Paris, 

but this boulangerie/pâtisserie is a favorite.

For many years my daughter and I stayed just around the corner 

and could smell the baguette ovens

from our beds in the early morning hours.  

Eric Kayser's orignal store is here on rue Monge, 

and if you are nearby you should definitely 

have a "baguette Monge."

The lemon tarts are pretty tasty, too

miam-miam!

Eric Kayser

8, rue Monge

75005, Paris

Le Jour du Macaron, ici et là

"here"

(chez Holly)

Today is the 10th anniversary of Le Jour du Macaron, started by Pierre Hermé.

In the early years it was a bit like a scavenger hunt all over Paris, and at each stop (famous Paris pâtisseries) you could collect three macarons and they would stamp your "macaron map."  At the end of the day if you had a map with all of the stamps, you then received a treasure chest of 36 macarons from Pierre Hermé!  In exchange you were asked for a small charitable donation.

It was so successful that after a few years, the bonus at the end of the day was halted.  Can you imagine how many Parisiens and tourists chased all over the city collecting macarons!  Now, Jour du Macaron is celebrated in many cities and countries around the world.

My daughter Holly and I have been making them (amid much scientific study and experimentation) for years now.  Our favorites to make: pistache with chocolate ganache filling, pecan with caramel au beurre salé, rosemary with lemon curd.  A good Swiss buttercream cut with Nutella will be great in any of these. 

"there"

(in Paris)

bon weekend

(miam-miam)

"ici" et "là"

là - Spécialités Artisanales

Biscuiterie de Montmartre

16, rue Norvins

75018, Paris

 

Boulangerie aux Castelblangeois - un régal pour l'oeil

Boulangerie aux Castelblangeois

Just before anyone considers a New Year's resolution 

regarding the consumption of delicious desserts, 

gaze one last time at these beauties.

Actually, there are no calories when feasting with the eyes.

miam-miam

Boulangerie aux Castelblangeois

104, rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine

75012, Paris

Métro Ledru-Rolin

Pâtisserie Thevenin - des gâteaux

The window at Thevenin

will surely tempt you.

For me, 

I will have the pistache et framboise

miam-miam

Pâtisserie Thevenin

5, rue Notre-Dame des Champs

75006, Paris

Un petit repas

After a full day in Paris

this is my preferred evening meal along with fresh fruit. 

And, yes, that is a very large slab of amazing French butter.

After a recount of the day's adventures

over this simple but delicious repas,

it is back out to capture the night scenes with our cameras.

When you are walking over 20,000 steps a day,

the French butter and baguettes do not "stick on you" for long.

miam-miam! 

l'apartement

75006, Paris



Un grand macaron de framboise!

A large raspberry macaron!

Macarons are a challenge to make with careful attention 

to the humidity, the age of the eggs, the balance of heat in the oven, 

the phase of the moon.

However, I cannot imagine

 how many attempts it would take 

in order to get a perfect one of this size.  

At least the failures become "family macarons" 

and no one complains!

(just kidding about the phase of the moon)

Boulangerie aux Castelblangeois

104, rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine

75012, Paris

Eric Kayser - Brioche Mousseline

Eric Kayser

Brioche Mousseline

Want to share one of these?

miam-miam!

Eric Kayser

14, rue Monge

75005, Paris

blé sucré - miam-miam

blé sucré

blé sucré is relatively new on the Paris bakery scene when one considers the legends of Ladurée and Pierre Hermé.  Founded by patissier Fabrice Le Bourdat, the list of temptations is long.  The quality is high and yet the prices are not.  So, what should you choose?

pain au chocolat, madeleine, and financier

Still hungry?

 éclair, croissant, chaussons aux pommes

More?

How about an assortment of macarons

 

 

blé sucré

7, rue Antoine Vollon

Métro Ledru Rollin

75012 Paris

 

Ladurée - miam-miam!

Ladurée

It is probably not a healthy way to start the week, 

but who could resist these lovelies?

Perhaps just share one with a friend.

miam-miam

Ladurée

21, rue Bonaparte

75006, Paris

des oeufs de chocolat

Chocolate Eggs!

When it comes to sweets 

and my péché mignon* in the world of indulgences 

(seen here in the form of chocolate eggs), 

it is important to decide if the calorie splurge is worth it.

These eggs are totally in the "worth it" category!

bon weekend

Au Levain du Marais

28, Boulevard  Beaumarchais

(at corner of Rue du Pasteur Wagner)

75011, Paris

*guilty pleasure

Julien - pâtisserie

Julien

Perhaps not the best for the start of a healthy week, 

but I do see four things that make me drool in this display case.


At least there is no harm in looking

miam-miam!

Julien

73, Avenue Franklin D Roosevelt

75008, Paris

Eric Kayser - une tarte aux framboises

Eric Kayser's

raspberry tarte

Although it is not as healthy as a bowl of raspberries (perhaps), the delicious bed of custard and perfectly prepared pâte sablée makes it "almost healthy" and too divine to resist.

miam-miam

Eric Kayer

8, rue Monge

75005, Paris

Les Marquis de Ladurée - papier et chocolat

Les Marquis de Ladurée

Expanding the Ladurée brand beyond the pastries and macarons, Les Marquis de Ladurée is a luxury product dedicated to exquisite gourmet chocolates.  The flagship boutique is found just off Place Vendôme with a window full of branded chocolates.

What you may not notice at first glance...

Everything in the windows other than the chocolates are made of paper.

The chandeliers, the candles, the plates, the flat-ware, the goblets, 

and even the "crystals" hanging from the chandeliers.

Les Marquis de Ladurée

14, rue de Castiglione

75001, Paris

Gérard Mulot - citron, citron vert, pistache!

Gérard Mulot

 

Some of the best macarons in Paris are found here. 

 

 

Although I make some very fine macarons,

I have never been able to make a tree. 

Perhaps it is because they are all too quickly consumed!

 

 

miam-miam

 

 

Gérard Mulot76, rue de Seine
Métro Odéon, Métro Mabillon 

Hugo et Victor

Hugo et Victor

This round of mouth-watering tart slices will have you pressing your nose to the glass.  Well, you will unless they give you the "look" and you remember that you are not in a dream of your own...

Hugo et Victor is the creation of Hugues Pouget who was formerly the pastry chef at Guy Savoy.  Pastries are categorized as either "Hugo," reinterpretations of the classics, or "Victor," traditional desserts created with an edge.  

The shops look more like the displays of fine jewelry than pastries and chocolates with glass cases and downcast spotlights.  For my taste, the chocolates are more outstanding than the pastries. 

bon weekend

Hugo et Victor

40, boulevard Raspail

75007, Paris