Tartelette au Citron, 12" x 16" AquarelleNostalgia and fond memories have much to do with our food choices. As I kid, I refused to eat birthday cake. My mother, after tearing her hair out, came up with the substitute of Lemon Meringue pie. Now I can't resist anything lemony and it was a natural that my first favorite Paris dessert should be a tarte au citron.
Pierre Hermé, normally the king of classic pastry géométrie , in this case over-decorates his Tarte Citron au Citron surface. The TRUE tarte citron should be a clean, flat circle of lemony unctuousness, so I resisted the temptation, which may have been a mistake...
Here's another sacrilege to the tarte citron at arnaud Del Mon Tel in the 9th. As far as I'm concerned it's incorrect to bow the surface of the tart or put stuff on it or in any way mar it's glassy smoothness. Do we really need to see a bit of lemon zest to identify these beauties? 
Le Pain Quotidien can get away with it in this case. Just a slight hint of excessiveness here...
Now here is perfection in Gérard Mulot's example. A nice smooth, flat, lake of a tart and so delicious I forgot to paint it. I dived straight in - there may well be a whole jar of lemon curd in this baby...
Only in Paris would you see a citron-colored patisserie.
Fridays are turning into Paris patisserie day here at PB.. In slightly over 2 weeks I'll take off in that direction and I'm getting myself ready for the glories that await me...
The raseberry on top of the citron tartlette, and your "excessive," note made me laugh!
ReplyDeleteYou make reading blogs a feast for the eyes, I dare say it is like walking in Paris, licking the windows...(as they say here in France about "window shopping!")
The painting on top is perfection, did you whip that up this morning???
What a delicious blog: I mean both the watercolours and their mouthwatering subjects.
ReplyDeleteI have just added a link to your blog in my own, called Acuarela.
You do very nice work.
Fabulous posting I wasn't at all hungry until I saw this. That shop, I saw it last week but can't remember where, put me out of my misery
ReplyDeleteI AM TYPING THRU THE DROOL ON MY KEYS! GLORIOUS AND AWESOME AND SIMPLY ENVIABLE! THOSE SWEETS ARE TINTILATING!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYour painting is absolutley mouthwatering!!
ReplyDeleteI too am a citrus-based dessert lover! I love lemon meringue and key lime pies, I wish I had the courage to try and make some myself. You captured it perfectly in your painting. :)
ReplyDeleteAh, more lovely photos and interesting info. Enjoy the pic of the patisserie.
ReplyDeletemaking my mouth pucker with pleasure thousand of miles away
ReplyDeleteThank you
How utterly delightful! I'm a huge fan of lemon-based desserts, and lemon tart happens to be my 'birthday cake' of choice!
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting these - they've really made my morning.
Cheers!
Looking/reading your blog I find I have gained 10 lbs. It's been worth it. Everything looks so yummy.
ReplyDeleteI think that is my favourite of all your gorgeous pictures to date. There is just something about the refelction on the top of the tart. Perfect.
ReplyDeleteHey Gillot, the watercolor at the top of todays post is great. I think is your best one so far. The composition is dynamic, and the application of the paint is loose. There's a lot of movement in this one,and the colors are great. You should focus on doing more still lifes that have this kind of complex composition. You can do it!!!
ReplyDeletelovely citron!!! my favorite too...
ReplyDeleteI can't take my eyes of the citron coloured patisserie. Can anyone resist a visit........The most inviting I've seen :-)
ReplyDeleteDon't know why citron tarts aren't more popular here...they are so gorgeous in France! You capture that sheen on the surface so perfectly...
ReplyDeleteIt's such a pleasure living out a dream...that's what you are dreamy...the limon' colored photo is my fav.
ReplyDeleteI discovered your blog a few weeks ago and it is a delight for all the senses. Your watercolors are as mouth-watering dreamy as your photos.
ReplyDeleteI, too, would rather have a tartelette au citron than a birthday cake any day of the year!
Another fabulous post with an excellent watercolor!
ReplyDeleteGreat watercolor, Carol. Is it for sale? :)
ReplyDeleteYum, yellow yummminess! I too am a big fan of citrusy tartness. we stayed right across from Mulot's on rue De Seine and it was a blessing and a curse! What gorgeous food.
ReplyDeleteShelagh where did you stay? Not Hotel La Louisiane by any chance? Hmmm..could be a dangerous choice I've made...
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful painting!
ReplyDeleteI propose a snob sentance "la géométrie pâtissière de P.Hermé..." thank you for your tarte au citron, très réaliste ! the shop Marquise de Sévigné is 2 minutes to my dentist, I have resisted, because I am waiting the week you will be in Paris...
ReplyDeleteM.
What a beautiful WC. The only problem is I'm sick in bed at the moment and want one of these Tartlets so bad:) Thats what always happens when I come hear. I must gain weight also. Lol.
ReplyDeleteHave a good day,
Linda
Beautiful Paintings, Beautiful photos scrumptious all the way around.
ReplyDeleteAll the best
;) Rebecca
ok, I am absolutely hungry now.......your fault! :)
ReplyDeleteI have decided that my diet plan involves eating only the deserts that you feature. So keep that in mind...
ReplyDeleteYour criticism of the domed lemon tart is right on: truly wonderful lemon curd is so silky it can NOT maintain a domed shape! That domed shape is an indication of something used to over-thicken the curd. What is the world coming to when you can't trust a French bakery to avoid stiffeners?
ReplyDeleteI can't help but feel you may have been missing out on the birthday cakes.....
Thanks for sharing the link, but unfortunately it seems to be offline... Does anybody have a mirror or another source? Please reply to my post if you do!
ReplyDeleteI would appreciate if a staff member here at parisbreakfasts.blogspot.com could post it.
Thanks,
Peter
Sweet web site, I had not come across parisbreakfasts.blogspot.com before during my searches!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work!