Seven Sweet Treats to Eat in Paris
Written as part of Paris Food Week for our Love Paris giveaway.
Paris is a treat for all the senses, but if you have a sweet tooth, this city will not disappoint! At every turn you will find classics, as well as classics “redefined,” as Paris continues to challenge itself to stay on top of its gourmet game.
I have seven sweet treats for you to try on your next Paris trip…
1. Chocolate mousse
For a classic French dessert you cannot go wrong with chocolate mousse. Served in every form and every size all over the city, it is loved by all. Variations include chocolate mousse infused with raspberry or orange and you will literally want to lick the dish it is served in. It is the perfect ending to a heavy meal as French portions dictate a relatively small serving size.
However there is one place that breaks this rule completely and is likely the best chocolate mousse in the entire city. Head over to L’Ambassade d’Auvergne (22 Rue du Grenier St-Lazare, 3rd.) where they serve a huge serving bowl full of it at your table! You can eat as much as you want and will be scolded for not polishing it off!
2. Chocolate éclairs
This little pastry delight is often the subject of much debate. The winners hotly contested from year to year. When it comes down to it, a good éclair has an outer shell made with eggs that is light and airy like a cream puff. The cream is rich and well, creamy without being too sugary sweet. They come in a few varieties such as chocolate with chocolate or vanilla cream filling or coffee-flavored with coffee-flavored filling.
One patisserie that shows up in the top 5 year after year is Stohrer Patissier-Traiteur (51 Rue Montorgueil, 2nd), which has been operating in the same location since 1730! They have many other treats but our known for their outstanding éclairs.
3. Tartes
Nothing tastes better than fresh fruit in season baked with a little sugar and butter and a simple crust. Tartes are a mouth-watering treat you can get all year long whose varieties will never leave you bored. Most restaurants, no matter what the size: café, bistro, brasserie – have a daily fresh tarte on their menu.
But if you want to search out the best of the best to try for yourself then you must visit Les petits Mitrons (26 rue Lepic, 18th) the best where many Parisians go to purchase tartes for dinner parties and gifts.
4. Millefeuille
Eating a millefeuille require commitment. It is messy but worth every crumb as each bite is a luscious combination of thin layers of puff pastry and layers of crème patisserie. You can get fancy and add fruit such as strawberries, but the “original” is just as satisfying.
Millefeuilles are best eaten fresh and what is fresher than made-to-order? To try out this new trend, head over to Chocolatier Jacques Génin (133 rue de Turennes, 3rd) it is well worth the wait!
5. Ile Flottante
A less commonly known but equally tasty classic dessert is île flottante, or floating island. It is a fluffy mound of toasted meringue in a pool of custard sauce. It is not really something you are going to be able to try on the street, but as it is usually served at very traditional restaurants it is the perfect ending to a hearty meal. It is light and airy and will go down well after an evening of traditional fare.
Two places known for serving île flottante are: La Fontaine de Mars (129, Rue Saint-Dominique, 7th) and A la Biche au Bois (45, avenue Ledru-Rollin, 12th).
6. Macarons
Ah macarons, every one is crazy about these bite-sized treats. There is even a Macaron Day now in Paris (around March 20th), a perfect time visit! This sweet treat made of egg whites, icing sugar, granulated sugar, almond powder or ground almond, and food coloring comes in so many amazing flavors it is hard not to find at least one you like! And good news for gluten-free folks, unlike most of the items listed in this post, macarons are gluten-free so you can enjoy too!
When it comes to the best, there are two camps: Ladurée and Pierre Hermé (multiple locations through out Paris).
7. Angelina’s Mont Blanc
From their hot chocolate to their macarons, to their millefeuille to their Mont Blanc, everything is mouth watering at Angelina’s. It is the perfect place to take a group or meet a friend as it has something for everyone.
The Mont Blanc is meringue encased in strands of chestnut purée and filled with whipped cream. It is legendary and unique to this magnificent tea salon.
And the perfect place to try out nearly all of the seven mouth watering treats that I have teased you with. Although I wouldn’t try them all in one day…
Want to win a trip to Paris? Like us on Facebook to enter our Love Paris giveaway (to September 30th 2011). The prize includes a Paris hotel stay and activity for two, plus £150/€170 travel vouchers to make the return journey.
About the author: Andi Fisher blogs daily at Misadventures with Andi where she writes about the merry musings of a feisty foodies slash lit-chickie slash globe-trotting wannabe Frenchie.
