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MERCI BEAUCOUP!
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Mouthwatering displays of handmade chocolate confections, windows showing-off their colorful fruit tartelettes, chocolate eclairs with glistening glaze, bite sized macaroons of orange, green, yellow and burgundy, baskets full of flaky pain-au-chocolat and picture perfect croissants....these are my daily temptations as I walk the rues of this beautiful city. Sometimes I stop and just admire...or as they say in French, "Je fais du lèche-vitrine." (Literally, it translates as, I lick the windows!)
However, this week I decided to expand my licking from windows to plates and try some of the most fabled patisseries in Paris. Oh la la! It was no small task trying to whittle down the lists of the "best" to get to 5 that for one reason or another called my name....but I did it! So follow me now through my path of indulgences...
***NOTE: my first stop was so special that I thought it deserved a post all by itself! :) The others will follow! Enjoy.***
First stop, Au Dimanche a Paris.
Located on one of the cutest cobblestone streets in Saint-Germain-des-Prés,
Un Dimache a Paris isn't JUST a patisserie...it is a restaurant, chocolate bar, lounge, boutique and salon de chocolate! All creations, savory and sweet, are centered around one theme...yep, you got it! Chocolat! Heaven on earth is yet again found on the streets of Paris!
It is a relatively new "concept store" and was opened by Pierre Cluizel, the son of the famous chocolatier Michel. He chose some of the best in the pastry and culinary fields to make Un Dimanche a feast for the eyes and taste buds.
Just a glimpse of the elegant and artistic delights...somehow I had to chose one to sample!
Vive le chef pâtissier francias!!
Everything in Un Dimanche is immaculately presented.
It is obvious that every detail had been thought though and that every product has been created with incredible care and great attention on the marriage of ingredients and flavors to create magic on the palette.
This picture is of the chocolate boutique where I could not only select my pastries, but also admire shelves of caramel and chocolate sauces, jars of "chocolate enrobed rosemary" beads, chocolate bars from Brazil, Ghana, Madagascar as well as other countries I haven't visited yet, yummy homemade marshmallows and candied clementines. The Christmas tree shaped object on the counter is an advent calendar that has 24 cute little drawers that they fill with one, two or five :) pieces of chocolate...it has been years since I have done an advent calendar, but that might all change this year!
I was finally able to make my choice!
I selected their Tartelette Framboise Estragon and a chocolat and coquelicot (poppy flower) macaroon.
It was all served to me with a fork and a knife! I didn't understand the mini-steak knife at first, but quickly realized it was there to help me elegantly eat my even more elegant pastry (otherwise that delicious cream would have been everywhere!). I don't know how to describe my tartelette other than divine. Really.
The chocolate macaroon was the best I have ever had, and the coquelicot macaroon was unique and light on my palette.
Served alongside my pastries was this unforgettable melange of melted Ecuadorian chocolate, cream, milk and a dash of spices presented to me in the pretty porcelain pitcher. I wish I could lick that drip right now!
It was indeed amazing...
but the quantity was bit much for this one little person. I literally was in some sort of sugar-induced coma staring blankly at the stone wall in front of me (which also happens to be one of the 4 remaining towers that created the12th century wall around Paris! Another is in the Louvre!) after eating my tartelette, macaroons and few cups of chocolat. I don't think I moved for 20 minutes....just stared...and perhaps caused some consternation with the staff. :)
So at the caisse to pay my bill I asked my server if next time I could order a cup of the chocolat chaud as what I ordered was beaucoup.
He declared, "Bien sur!" and then proceeded to say with a bit of a grimmace, "Ah, but you didn't need to drink it all!"
What! I know he is French and folks in his culture are able to take one bite of a dessert and then push it aside, but I am American...and a woman. You put anything sugary, chocolate and, in this case, out of this world delicious in front of me and you can bet your mama's secret cinnamon roll recipe that I am going to devour every last bit...and then lick the plate clean. That my friend, Monsieur Frenchie, is the reason why I need to order just a cup next time! *sigh*
Before exiting this chocolate paradise, I decided to go upstairs to check out the Lounge. I pulled back the black, velvet curtain to see plush purple and cream couches and chairs with a quaint bar in the corner...even their lounging space was yummy! I thought to myself, "I must come back here with friends." Then I let go of the curtain and headed out. Halfway down the stairs I heard, "Madame," so I turned to face a beautiful French man with curly locks. He asked me in French if I was looking for someone in particular. "Yes!" I thought, "You, my entire life." But all my sugar-shocked tongue could get out in English was, "Uh No, I was just looking." :( Egads! Why am I never charming when I need to be!? I think we were both disappointed in my response, because we both ended up turning around with our heads hanging low....he returned upstairs, me, well, I went home. *double sigh*
As a signing off note, I headed back to Un Dimanche tonight! In the cozy lounge I read and drank their Thé au Chocolat before meeting a friend....there! It was another deliriously good choice on my part...but really, I think it is impossible to make a bad choice there. However, I intend to keep going back to prove if this theory is correct....someone has to!
For those who love or want to know more about Patisseries in Paris, here is an outstanding blog that I resourced for my research :) : http://www.parispatisseries.com/
I will be dreaming patisserie tonight.....
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