November 12, 2010 by Amy Thomas
Amy Thomas, Paris’ sweets goddess, recently organized a croissant tasting for a blessed few. To our great dismay, we were out of town and unable to partake in the buttery festivities. To make up for it, we’re sharing her write-up here so you can live vicariously through the smackdown with us…
Buttery, flaky deliciousness… The Croissant. Photo by Robopy
One of the first things many tourists do upon arrival in Paris is go to the nearest café and order a café au lait and croissant. We expats like to whisper conspiratorially, “Only tourists order café au lait, it’s really un crème…” If we’re nice about it, we even advise our visiting friends of this nuance so they can be more local than tourist.
But when it comes to the croissant part of the equation, there don’t seem to be many insider tricks or tips. As omnipresent as croissants are in Paris, they don’t inspire the same loyalty and rivalry as macarons, the same adoring squeals of delight as petit gateaux, or the same declarations of the very, very best like baguettes or cocoa.
So on a recent Saturday morning, I gathered a group of bloggers and friends from all pockets of the world to at least begin making comparisons and declarations—it was the third edition of an American Smackdown in Paris. What did it reveal?
The contenders: (clockwise from top left): Gerard Mulot, Au Levain du Marais, sample plate of the mystery contender, and the inside of the Gerard Mulot croissant. Photos by Amy Thomas.
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October 11, 2009 by Tory Hoen
Guest blogger Sally Peabody continues her search for edible delicacies at Paris’ various tea salons…
A tea flavored ‘macaron’ Gerard Mulot Paris – Paris Breakfasts
Text by Sally Peabody, Your Great Days in Paris
Paris abounds in splendid tea salons and tea shops. For those who love to brew, Paris is the tea capital of the world as a result of the high quality and the diversity of fine tea served and sold here. But the tea itself is just the beginning, since the city’s masterpatissiers, chocolatiers, and tea salons offer up numerous diverting edible options. Here is my favorite short list of where to go to enjoy fine tea out of the pot and delicacies on the plate! Continue Reading »
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October 8, 2009 by Haven in Paris
Food blogger, photographer, and world traveler Heidi Swanson reflects on 10 idyllic days in Paris. From the flea markets at Clignancourt to the gelato at Pozzetto to dinner at Le Verre Volé, she hit a number of our favorite spots.
Text and photos by Heidi Swanson, 101 Cookbooks
It’s 5:45 in the morning, the sky is starting to glow ever so slightly near the horizon, and all is still and quiet outside. I’m sitting on my sofa wide awake. My body thinks it’s the middle of the day, and there is no way around it – I’m in for a couple more early mornings before I can shake this jet lag. So. I thought I’d make myself some tea, watch the sun come up, and take a bit of time to share my notes on Paris, before the details of this adventure start to slip my mind. Continue Reading »
Posted in Arts, Parisian Living, Travel | 2 Comments »
