April 5th, 2013
This post is one of many documenting my week in Paris, a present to myself for graduating pastry school in the fall of 2012. Every moment was spent eating and one post wasn’t enough. It’s now a short novel. Kidding. I hope.
To get to the Sacre Coeur I got off at the Abbesses subway stop. Walking out onto the street I found myself in the middle of a mid-day flea market. There was a carousel in the middle and a wonderful sugary smell coming from a churro cart. I was most thrilled to scour through odds and ends to find a true gem of a vintage kitchen item, but alas nothing. I did see some mini savarin molds but I didn’t have the confidence to haggle.
Read more →
March 31st, 2013
Every year, March 20th is dedicated to the macaron. The celebration originated in Paris by Pastry Chef Pierre Herme. I hope to one day join the festivities there as it seems to get more elaborate every year. There is a map with participating patisseries offering a free macaron and it’s a day of going from one shop to the next eating. This year aprons were created with the Macaron Day logo. In New York, Francois Payard has brought the tradition stateside with a similar macaron tour of shops in the city. Here in San Francisco, it isn’t quite as organized unfortunately but nonetheless I celebrated by getting macarons from b.patisserie.
My bag to go with one of each flavor
Read more →
March 29th, 2013
This post is one of many documenting my week in Paris, a present to myself for graduating pastry school in the fall of 2012. Every moment was spent eating and one post wasn’t enough. It’s now a short novel. Kidding. I hope.
It was so cold, sooo very cold on this particular morning. Hovering around the mid 40′s, the weather wasn’t exactly great for all the walking I needed to do in order to stick to my pastry schedule. Nevertheless I toughed it because it’s Paris and bundled in three layers of clothing, gloves and a scarf I made my way through the Bastille (12th arr) and Montmartre (18th arr) neighborhoods and ended up having some of the best food on my trip.
Read more →
March 8th, 2013
This post is one of many documenting my week in Paris, a present to myself for graduating pastry school in the fall of 2012. Every moment was spent eating and one post wasn’t enough. It’s now a short novel. Kidding. I hope.
I always say Laduree is the Tiffany’s of sweets. Walking out of the shop with a pastel green bag is chic and tres Parisian. The interior is truly opulent with crystal chandeliers and wall paintings inspired by the Sistine Chapel and nearby Opera Garnier. Everything is gilded in gold from the porcelain china for tea to the macaron boxes that I admit to saving because they are so beautiful. I typically brave the long line, buy my macarons and leave but on my latest trip I decided this was a fitting place to celebrate graduating from pastry school since my final project was a pastry assortment inspired by the ones at Laduree.
Three of the locations in Paris have tea salons, Champs-Elysees, rue Bonaparte and rue Royale. The latter is the oldest and I wanted to be at the original establishment so allons-y! Off to rue Royale for tea!
Read more →
February 23rd, 2013
The start of the Year of the Snake in photos
A sea of red confetti on the ground as kids set off fireworks in the middle of a deserted Chinatown. Did not know businesses actually closed that day.
Read more →
February 15th, 2013
It took two trips before I succeeded in getting some morning pastries from b.patisserie. Several pastry shops have opened in the past year but never have I seen such a demand. My first visit, silly me was mid-day and there was one scone and brioche bun left on their serving boards. The pastry counter was completely empty except for a row of chocolate-covered domes. My second trip, at 9 in the morning I was greeted with nicely stacked plates of golden flaky pastries.
Croissant and Kouign Amann
Read more →
January 20th, 2013
When I think of the Dogpatch in San Francisco I immediately name Mr. & Mrs. Miscellaneous, one of my favorite ice cream spots in the city and Esprit Park, a grassy area with picnic tables, idyllic on a sunny day particularly because the Dogpatch is far enough away from the bay so its always a bit warmer. Now I’ll add Chocolate Lab to the list of places to go. Near the park on the corner of a quiet street, the cafe was opened by chocolatier Michael Recchiuti. His chocolate shop in the Ferry Building has a counter of the most beautiful truffles which I have yet to try, but most certainly will after my visit to the Lab.
Read more →
January 20th, 2013
This post is one of many documenting my week in Paris, a present to myself for graduating pastry school in the fall of 2012. Every moment was spent eating and one post wasn’t enough. It’s now a short novel. Kidding. I hope.
Time for my first of three afternoon tea posts. Sadly I heard this past week (1/14/13) that Jacques Genin will no longer be carrying pastries. Yes his fortés are his chocolates and caramels but I thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon tea I had there. Hopefully it will continue in some form.
Tea for two at Jacques Genin in the Marais (3rd arrondissement)
Read more →
|
|