Sweet dreams at the French bakery. It’s guaranteed. Every trip to a bakery in France is just that – a delicious dream. Savoury or sweet, depending on your preference, the day, or time.
Patisserie Perfection – For A French Tart
A sign behind the counter at my local bakery yesterday said “RÊVE” – dream … And I was. The pinch me – I am in a French patisserie dream again. As I stood goggle-eyed over the offerings – chocolate, strawberry, raspberry and mango delights – the dream was real. Small tarts, big tarts, creamy concoctions, heavenly offerings … The flakey mille-feuille, puffy Paris Brest, mousse’y Chocolat Royals and strawberry-piled tarte aux fraises.
There are only so many dreams you can have in a day. I walked away with far more goodies than I had counted on – for one person, and one night.
A fun fact: There are 33,000 boulangerie-pâtisserie in France – down from 36,500 in the 90s. That’s according to the National Confederation of Bakeries and Pastry Stores.
The savoir-faire is on display in full force with just about every bakery-pastry store trip I make … I’m selective. I choose my stores well … and do my research.
In the cake I ended up selecting at the Maison Brieva – a raspberry and currant, sweet and tangy delight – this French culinary art was screaming at me in the flavours, too. Exquisite and fine in concoction and construction.
Sweet Dreams at the Local Bakery
The Maison Brieva quite astoundingly doesn’t have a website – which is also refreshing. It does a roaring trade behind its charming old-world red facade, wrapped around a corner – literally by word of mouth.
You can find it at 100 Av. de la Résistance, 93340 Le Raincy (on the RER line E).
It’s closed on Mondays – and open 12 hours most other days.
Meanwhile, I have just started an Instagram account to share my foodie adventures and forays into bakery land as an unabashed French tart. That’s right, Tamara, the French Tart. It’s official. I would love you to join me there. Bon appetit!
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