week in paris -

First Day in Paris

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.

When I started writing this series, I jumped right into detailed accounts of my pastry excursions. I thought I’d go back to the first day and share what I did upon arrival in one of my favorite cities in the world. I was still a bit jet lagged so I warmed up my legs by just strolling around the neighborhood where I had rented my apartment for the week. St Germain des Pres (6th arr) has my favorite pastry and bread shops but there were still new places I was eager to try. And bonus for traveling with a friend, I got to taste twice as much.

Around Sacre Coeur and Boulangerie Gontran Cherrier

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.

Patisserie Blé Sucré and Sacre Coeur

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.

Afternoon Tea: Laduree

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!

Afternoon Tea: Jacques Genin and my caramel-making story

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)

Older Posts

week in paris

First Day in Paris

Around Sacre Coeur and Boulangerie Gontran Cherrier

Patisserie Blé Sucré and Sacre Coeur

Afternoon Tea: Laduree

Afternoon Tea: Jacques Genin and my caramel-making story

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