The crowded designer pastry shop milieu in Paris has just added a new member: L’ Éclair de Génie. The concept store specializes in exotic flavored éclairs and chocolate truffles. The interior is spare and modern and the glistening éclairs in the cases looked like shiny new cars. The festively decorated éclairs are topped with angels, sterling silver flecks, rose petals, and coconut. Flavors include milk chocolate with mango, banana, and lime, salted butter caramel, pistachio and orange, raspberry and cherry, rose with vanilla cream, pecan and vanilla, mocha with white chocolate, and old fashioned praline. The small éclairs come at a premium price, ranging 5 to 5.5 euros, about two euros more than the average éclair even at the top patisseries.
The sexy looking creator of L’ Éclair de Génie, Christophe Adam (checkout his dreamy photo on the website.), formerly worked at Fauchon heading up their pastry and bakery section in Paris followed by openings of Fauchon in Monaco, Bordeaux, New York, Moscow, Dubai, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Casablanca. He opened two Adam’s café and snack shops in Paris followed by L’ Éclair de Génie in December in the Marais.
In a past life besides being a chef and caterer, I was a pastry maker and chocolatier. I used to make the most decadent chocolate truffles with Callebaut dark Belgian chocolate. I had a teeny shop on West 55th St. in Manhattan called Richtreats. One of my chocolate Easter bunnies was featured on the front page of the New York Times Wednesday food section.
Since I know a thing or two about truffles, I am always curious to try new ones. The raspberry truffle with a milk chocolate outside shell at L’ Éclair de Génie was tasty but missed the mark in terms of the intensity of the chocolate. Also, I am not a fan of truffles with hard outside shells, I like the instant gratification of the rich ganache straight away. My truffles were soft with just a dusting of cocoa on the outside. The truffles that are most similar to mine are at Jean-Charles Rochoux, 16 rue d’Assas, 75006.
L’ Éclair de Génie
14 rue Pavée, 75004
Metro: St. Paul
Open everyday 10:30AM to 7:30PM
http://www.leclairdegenie.com
Correction: In my interview with Marianne Strom last week, I stated her book Paris en Details/Le Marais was only available in French. Actually it was printed in bi-lingual text, French and English.
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.
Tours cost 195 euros for up to 3 people, and 65 euros for each additional person. 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
New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
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 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: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
New Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale
I am happy to announce the sale of a new set of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos. I am offering 20 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.
Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.
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