I know everybody is on some kind of diet after the gluttony of holiday eating. Well, just when you thought it was safe to go back to eating cottage cheese & jello and not be tempted by mouthwatering desserts, I'm going to make it dangerous. After all, you are probably in a little bit of the January doldrums already with holidays being over, and nothing too exciting on your food horizon except celery sticks staring you in the face.
I thought I would give your neglected sweet-tooth a boost this week by making it Sweet Week. I recently discovered three incredible sweet outlets and have been dying to share them with you.
Cupcakes have been the craze in the states in the last few years and in New York I used to frequent Cupcake Cafe and Magnolia bakery. With all the fantastic pastry in Paris I never missed them but when I was walking down rue Rambuteau last month, I stopped dead in my tracks. There was a new pastry shop named Berko and through the window I saw a metal cupcake tree on the counter inside. I busted through the door brimming with excitement that my favorite childhood and adulthood treat had finally arrived. With my nose pressed against the glass and trying not to drool on it, I intensely studied the 15 fabulous flavors in the case including traditional vanilla and chocolate dressed up with silver and gold beads, welcome nifty newcomers caramel, carrot cake,Oreo,coffee, and white chocolate, and some oddities that I'm not sure worked like lavender, mandarin, and pistachio.
Choosing as carefully as a death row inmate deciding on their last meal, I chose the caramel. The icing was creamy, buttery, and not too sweet and the cake moist.It was rich and satisfying and I didn't crave another one afterwards.
Smacking my lips after after my cupcake rush, I looked to see what else the shop offered and found some interesting choices. Chocolate Moelleux came in a small black pot so that you can heat it up at home. In case you didn't know what chocolate Moelleux was, it's a cake that's hard and cake like on the outside and gooey in the inside. Individual cakes of lemon meringue, caramba bar, white chocolate & raspberry, and cappuccino looked beautiful and mouthwatering.
The handsome dark wood that's on the floors and continues up to the cases make the minimalist interior feel warm and welcoming. The friendly, helpful staff was ever so patient when I was making my monumental cupcake flavor choice.
I'm so happy I finally found a cupcake haven in Paris.
Chocolate Moelleux
Berko
23 rue Rambuteau, 3d arr.
Metro:Rambuteau
Tel. 01 40 29 02 44
Open Tuesday- Sunday 10AM to 8PM
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook. First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte’s professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 3 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
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