Photo by Allison Planck; Minolta x-700
INDULGE YOUR SWEET TOOTH:
My Little Black Book of Pastry Shoppes
If you make peace with gaining a couple extra pounds in Paris than I swear you will have a lot more fun. I don't eat a whole lot of bread or sweets on a regular basis at home, honestly because of simple indifference really, so this was a new experience for me. Bread is a staple of the French diet; indulging on a pastry here and there is not frowned upon like it is in American culture. With every dinner comes desert, which is actually customary in the multicourse food culture of Paris. I had a couple of pastries and deserts here and there and definitely did not limit myself when the opportunity presented itself to try new things. However, in my last two weeks I had realized that I definitely could be eating and experiencing more of what the Parisian sweet life had to offer. At this point, I vowed that I would try as many new deserts as humanly possible - seeking them out if necessary. On thing you must understand, is that I was not actively eating the same pastry or desert over and over again. The goal was not to be a glutton but to broaden my experiences by trying the food that Paris had to offer. Also, the consistency of bread is much lighter and fresher in Paris because they are not allowed to use preservatives. You usually have to read the label or pay extra in America for that kind of quality, but in Paris it is actually written in law that bread can only contain four ingredients: wheat flour, water, salt, and yeast. This may put things into perspective about how important the food culture is in France, and why I took this venture so seriously.
Gilded eclairs at L'éclair de Génie
The first time I had a éclair in France, it was unfortunately a very poor one at a corner stand bakery that we learned to stay away from. This made my next experience with the esteemed éclair all the more enjoyable. Decadent and almost designer in appearance, the craft of baking has been turned into an art form at L'éclair de Génie. I am talking about edible gold flakes and beautifully arranged toppings that look AND taste great. These bad boys run for about 5 to 6 euro, but they are well worth it to try an éclair the right way.
L'éclair de Génie in the 2nd Arrondissement, Paris
Photo by Allison Planck; Minolta x-700
Gelato at Pozzetto
I don't want to admit the number of times that I ate gelato from Pozzetto, because the truth is that it was so many times that I lost track. This was our go-to afternoon treat and it was very addicting. You can choose multiple sizes, different flavored scoops, and top it with fresh 'whipped' cream - which, trust me tastes nothing like whipped cream at home. The flavors are incredible fresh and super creamy and thick. This is a very notable place for ice cream and gelato in Paris.
Pozzetto in the Marais, Paris
Photo by Allison Planck; iPhone 5c
Macarons at Ladurèe
I was smart and waited to have my first French macaron at the famous cafe at Ladurée. Again, this is a spot for both tourists and locals where you can have a very nice lunch, desert, and gourmet tea. The interior of the restaurant is incredibly luxurious and light; the atmosphere made me imagine how much fun it would be to be Marie Antoinette for a day (only a day). The glassware and dishware were beautiful and elegant and what arrived inside of them only made it that much better. I ordered the macaron glacé, which is basically the tiny, delicatessen queen of all ice cream sandwiches and is served atop a sorbet of your choosing. I also ordered the Marie Antoinette black tea because it seemed to fit the mood. Get a box of macrons to go from this place - you'll thank me later.
Ladurée on Rue Bonaparte, Paris
Photo by Allison Planck; Minolta x-700
Street Crepes
Pop up stands for crêpes can be found all over Paris. They range from offering simple butter and sugar crêpes to fully loaded savory lunch crêpes. These are a great midday snack that are wrapped up and eaten on the go. The sugar crêpes are usually pretty cheap and serve as a great pick me up before or after a meal.
Ladurée on Rue Bonaparte, Paris
Photo by Allison Planck; iPhone 5c
Turkish Delight at the Grande Mosquée
The day we went to the Gradne Mosquée it was raining. The beautiful and ornate patterns and brilliantly colored tiles only seemed to glisten that much more bright under the drops and puddles of water. The café is open to the public and serves deserts and customary hot tea. I had never had Turkish delight and only knew of it from a C.S. Lewis novel. Turkish delight was one of the best small deserts - powdery, sweet, and so sticky that it made your mouth water. I had it later at another Parisian spot and it was nowhere as good as my experience at the Grand Mosquée
Salon de thé de la Grande Mosquée de Paris
Photo by Allison Planck; iPhone 5c
Puff Pastries at Popelini
Popelini is one of those cutesy shops that sell equally cutesy items. The puff pastries, or choux à la crème, of Popelini are beautifully topped with different colored 'hats' and filled with a cold, custardy inside. You can either eat them there in the shop or take home a couple of your choosing in a sweet little box.
Salon de thé de la Grande Mosquée de Paris
Photo by Allison Planck; Minolta x-700
Tea and Pie-sized Tarts at Le Loir dans la Théière
Le Loir dans La Théiere is situated in the shopping district of Marais, which I have told you is a very trendy neighborhood for boutiques and restaurants alike. The inside is very eclectic, with rough wood tables, colored seats and poster-lined walls. If you just want to desert and tea, you need to tell them that you are not there for lunch because they will seat you in a different area. This is not a familiar situation for Angelino's who say yes to anything to get a sit down table at a restaurant. I unfortunately did not get the memo about the seating distinctions and was forced to watch giant pieces of meringue float by table without being able to order one myself. Do not make the same mistake!