I must have passed Comme a Lisbonne a hundred times, quickly but curiously staring down the intriguing mini- custard tarts in the teeny, tiny storefront on rue Roi de Sicile, before deciding to finally take the time to fully check it out.
The bright white tiled storefront has a glass case smack in front of you that you can't miss with the tantalizing pasteis de nata (custard tarts) with patches of burnt sugar on top. I knew just by looking and smelling them they would scrumptious.
I ordered one and a cafe noisette (an espresso with a touch of milk). The pasteis de nata was slightly warm and runny, and as I guessed (my pastry instincts are very rarely wrong), it was sublime. The custard was velvety and the crust was flaky and just buttery enough. I could have downed at least three more without hesitation but I refrained so I wouldn't overdose on such a good thing. Even though the coffee in Paris is good, it's mostly the same, either the Illy or Richard brand, so the Portuguese coffee was a welcome respite from the monotonous taste of the others.
The woman at the counter was warm and accommodating and told me some interesting facts about the shop. She told me the tarts were handmade in the basement. When I noticed painted birds on the walls, she said they were sparrows and that in Portugal they bring happiness when they are painted on the walls of your home.
Comme a Lisbonne also stocks their shelves with gourmet Portuguese specialties in color drenched packaging including canned sardines, codfish, tuna, mackerel, and squid from the oldest fish factory in Portugal, tea from the only tea plantation in Azores, olives, olive oil, and jams.
Now I know the first dessert I will order when I go to Portugal, but will have already had my fill in Paris at Comme a Lisbonne.
Comme a Lisbonne
37 rue de Roi de Sicile, 75004
Metro: Hotel de Ville
Open 11AM to 7PM, Tuesday to Sunday
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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, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotteís 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)
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Oh Richard! Another source of Xmas gifts!! Mike is a fool for flan, which, as you probably know, is custard with carmelized sugar. This would be right up his alley! Now, if we just have the time and can find the place while there!
Posted by: Joy | July 20, 2012 at 03:08 PM
Wonder if there as good as the ones we had in Portugal! Looks like it!
Posted by: L Michele | July 20, 2012 at 03:09 PM
This sounds yummy! The Italian companion is called Pasticiotta.
Posted by: Juana | July 20, 2012 at 03:10 PM