There's a new tea salon in town.
Department store BHV has conveniently opened a fun branch of Patisserie des Reves on their 3rd floor. BHV 36 Rue de la Verrerie 75004
It's huge and pleasantly casual.
I love the decor.
All sun shiny yellow with interesting details.
But I have a Bucket Dessert List to check off and Pierre Conticini's prize-winning Saint-Honoré was waiting for the seal of approval.
Who doesn't love tarte citron? One must focus.No distractions allowed.
Stunning glassware is from Silodesign-Paris (cleanse your palates between tastes with good ole l'eau de Paris tap water).
I brought along my special knife from home thinking I'd merely taste one thin slice and leave the rest.
Ha! Impossible.
Successive layers of caramelized feuilletée pastry make the base for two kinds of cream - crème patissiere à la vanille and crème légère both loaded with specs of vanilla bean. And topped with crunchy caramelized choux/cream puffs also filled with the vanilla pastry cream. It looks madly excessive but because it's not overly sweet as you'd imagine, the taste experience is delicate and light.
The Saint Honoré was invented in the 19th century by Simon Chiboust, whose shop was of course on rue St. Honoré. The patron saint of pastry chefs and bakers is St. Honoré by the way. The vanilla filling cream is called 'Chiboust crème' after chef Chiboust.
On to the obsession - Contacini's tarte Citron.
Another light and delicate creation with a topping of guimauve-like Italian meringue. The whole tarte is turned upside down and dipped into meringue. Then swiftly lifted up to get its unusual peak. Then lightly toasted with a blow torch.
There's a video here of the fabrication.
There's a video here of the fabrication.
Even kids can do this! Both lemon confit and lemon curd filling are suffiently tart and acidulate so you're not left with a sugary aftertaste in your mouth. This is what sets Parisian pastry far above the rest.
Sweet pink/rose is Patisserie des Reves signature color.
Their packaging is fun and playful. Grownups feel like kids here yet the pastries are sophisticated and sublime.
Somehow we missed the pink ice cream stand at entry...
I have pink on the brain since I saw this hot pink/rose kid's schoolbag in Monoprix(54€).
My schoolbag de reve...
BHV has a more sophisticated version from Marc Jacobs on sale (245€ -30% off) Hmmm..They have a Paris Black version of my pink dream. It will carry sketchbook materials nicely. Oh forgot to try the Patisseries' famous 'Lemonata'!
Go back to BHV again?
What's on your fav Bucket List Dessert in Paris?
It is really a beautiful shop and all dishes are really looking tasty. It is nice place to spend time and eat these yummy dishes.
ReplyDeleteRegard
Your rendition of the dessert is soooo perfect!
ReplyDeletenever thought of a backpack for journaling things..great idea..
Cute cute resto..
Always fun to see somethingnew..
Of course..you always do!
One MUST keep PB readers amused.
DeleteSuch hard work!
Don't think I run around to these places for fun or anything...ahem :))
Oh Carol, I love the color scheme of the cafe...it really is a lemon meringue tribute. I wonder whether lots of patrons go for something citron?
ReplyDeleteYour painting is also a treat...and very educational, too.
I giggled at reading about your bringing your own knife. xo
The sharp knife is genius. Makes for a cleaner cut, hence more educational cross section of the dessert. I think Carol was a surgeon in a past life.
DeleteA pastry surgeon.
DeleteALWAYS !
Just yesterday I introduced my 15YO granddaughter to lemon meringue pie at the EAstern York, PA FArmer's Market. Not PAris decor but something special/unique anyway and a great piece of pie...not always the case with lemon meringue. THANKS so much for your blog.
ReplyDeleteThis looks so much friendlier than the original shop, although that's an awful lot of pink. The St. Honore looks perfect---meets all my requirements for tan, creamy, and crunchy. We'll have to try this in the fall. BHV is quite the place these days!
ReplyDeleteTAN desserts! There are many at Parisserie des Reves.
DeleteAnd yes this branch at BHV is much more user friendly...less intimidating.
What a fun post today. Love the yellow decor, and the pink. I would love a taste of every one of those desserts. I did not know you bring your own knife.
ReplyDeleteMadonna
MakeMineLemon
The Japanese Kyocera is good for clean cuts on pastry but I couldn't find it so brought my Wusthof.
DeleteHow else to get a good look at the insides?
wonderful dessert and wonderful your watercolor work. I like them.
ReplyDeleteI'm in sugar shock. I make no important decisions right now. I can smell all of it - your descriptions are spot on.
ReplyDeleteBut sugar is the minor note in French pastry, so not possible.
DeleteCream, butter, yes plenty of it.
Best to share as Janice and I did.
Plus I left my divine crust on the tarte :(
Who am I kidding?
I really enjoy your pics of daily life. Beautifully photographed. I look forward to these posts from Paris
ReplyDeleteYou're killing me here...you are showing my favorite French desserts.We were staying just down the street from the BHV in April.How did I miss this beautiful patisserie,or maybe it hadn't opened yet.It's on my list for next time.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you have a partner in crime for your dessert bucket list.
your work is charming and makes me smile and is very inspiring too!! Thank you for sharing it/yourself with the world. : )
ReplyDeleteThe photo with the small child in red is so classically French. I'd know she was une petite parisienne just by her haircut and determined gait!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you noticed PC!
DeleteOne of my old favorites taken near the Luxembourg gardens.
She looks exactly like my daughter...and although we live in the US, she is part French! ;)
DeleteGreat post as always! :)
Fabulous article! you have been working very hard for all of us. . . :)
ReplyDeleteI am a pastry chef in Paris and I worked at the Patisserie des Reves. Your drawings are exceptional. I would be thrilled to share a patisserie by the Luxembourg gardens if you ever cared to, since I live very close. Keep up the beautiful descriptions and pictures. Truly wonderful! Abigail
ReplyDeleteLove to Abigail.
DeleteI tried to leave a comment but Goggle + won't let me :(
Love your baking stories!!
Meanwhile back in Washington state I'm gobbling fresh cherries but your lovely pastries made me sigh. I did finally have my very first macaron while in Luxembourg in your honor (after years of reading your blog and watching you eat!). I'll go snuffle up a few more cherries. The season is short and only fresh in season will do!
ReplyDeleteNothing tops fresh cherries in my book
DeleteI've got to agree ... still snuffling up cherries like a pig hunting truffles.
DeleteI need a two of those pink canister shapes (I think they say sable- so you don't have to empty them first. I will make the sacrifice and empathy them myself) for my pantry shelves. They are the only thing standing between me and the good life.
ReplyDeleteWow,Carol,WOW! Another fabulous(delicious!) post!
ReplyDeleteFloating off to heaven!
Thank you!!!
When did Patisserie des Reves install itself in BHV???
ReplyDeleteIt's going to the top of my list for next spring.
Great you're up and about just like old times.
Everything looks delicious; your sketch, your photos, the people, the shop's décor, and of course, the pastries.
ReplyDeleteThe Saint-Honore looks fabulous!
I am living SO vicariously through you! Enjoy for me!
ReplyDeleteBHV is always a good idea! But so is pastry!
ReplyDeleteThe petit garçon in red skipping down the sidewalk made me melt! V
ReplyDeletethere is now a patisserie des reves in london......marybone hight street.w1....'take away only....,but they may change that i
ReplyDeleteOh my, these all look amazing! I wanted to taste them as I read along... Thankfully we are headed to Paris in two weeks! Thanks so much for sharing these amazing treats! I am also glad to see your progressing recovery from the cast!! I'm glad you eventually did get a boot! Hope you are continuing to feel great! :D
ReplyDeleteIs there such a thing as a Pastry Bucket List, because if not I am starting one and this delicacy is at the top of the list. Thank you once again Carol for the inspiration, because last month we were in Paris for one day and made a first time macaron run to Gerard Mulot near Jardin Luxembourg, for my family's first taste of the dear cookie you introduced me too on this blog. We now cannot wait until we can once again devour the sweet treats, in Paris of course, and especially the Caramel au Beurre Sale (sp?). Thank you dear Carol.
ReplyDeleteOh my, I will have to check out PDR in BHV. The Saint Honore does look divine, but that lemonata was one of my very favourite things I ate on my last trip to Paris- I hope it's a year round treat, and not just a summer one. My Paris pastry bucket list is so big as to be never-ending I suspect. I haven't had the PDR Tarte Citron for example- an error that must be corrected.
ReplyDelete