Pierre Herme Saint Honore

It's been a while since we've immersed ourselves in a Paris patisserie. Pierre Herme has a new collection out. It's a small new collection of Saint-Honore gateaux.

A little history. I hope you have your pencils poised.

The St. Honoré Cake, is a richly decorated cake named after Saint Honore, the seventh-century Bishop of Amiens, and the French patron saint of pastry chefs and bakers. (WOW!) Pastry chef Chiboust is rumoured to have created it in his Paris shop in 1846. It consists of a pâte brisée base with a pâte a choux ring around the outside. Individual pâte a choux puffs are filled with pastry cream and dipped in caramel. They are then attached on top of the outside ring of the cake with more caramel to hold them in place. The Gateau St. Honore is also known as the "Ball Cake" because of the little caramel-covered pastry balls surrounding the top of the cake.

Shall we head over to Pierre Herme's at 72, rue Bonaparte in St Germain des Prés 75006?
You can take ligne #4 to station Saint-Sulpice. Or the #87 bus stops nearby. We're back on rue Bonaparte. Look the windows have changed! Last week for Jour du Macarons day, schools of hungry fish hunting for Free macarons!This week a sweet bebe is transfixed in wonderment at Herme's new Saint-Honore petit fours. A closeup - is this a fausse petit four? Let's go inside for the REAL thing! Vite! Ahhhhhhhhh...Ooooooooooo..

*Please note it's the caramel that is the glue that holds these cream puffs together. Pierre Herme's description for these delights:

Saint Honoré SatineTrès frais,

très parfumé,

entre acidulé et sucré

(a rough translation=very fresh, very perfumed, between acidic and sweet. French sounds so much better doesn't it?)

Just in case you're not up for whipped creme there are other delectables to choose from.

Afterwards, take your goodies to a park bench in the nearby Place Saint-Sulpice.

The pigeons are waiting.

Or go for a coffee at nearby Cafe de la Mairie, just round the corner. Word has it you can bring P.H. goodies here to eat in proper fashion as they well deserve.

Then I suggest you rent-a-frouffy-dog from Etienne Marcel to work off the cream.

Or come on a my place and climb the 132 stairs (7 flights) any number of times.
BONJOUR JEUDI!