Cafe Pouchkine, 9" x 11"
I had a teatime rendez-vous with PastryParis author, Susan Hochbaum near Metro Franklin D. Roosevelt. *NEVER agree to meet anyone near this metro. In fact avoid it at all costs. It's totally confusing + it was pouring cats and dogs out to boot. Where was Leslie Caron to lead me out the right exit? I turned around and went home :(
Thanks to email we re-connected later at Cafe Pouchkine - Printemps
That's Susan about to take her seat at the counter. Go early before it gets crowded. Word is out. Or else the cafe is being bombarded by PBers :) 
I hit it lucky - la vendeuse is completely involved packing up pastries and misses me taking pastry shots. On the left a Russian witty version of the quelle ordinaire French choquette (Chouquette Botchka) - those little sugared puffs you buy a bag of for 1-2 euros. 
What is a 'Medovick'? Does it matter? 
Everything at Cafe Pouchkine is pretty amazing and worth a try... 
I decide on the rosey-raspberry jelled concoction on the left... 
Extremement jolie! 
Clever Pouchkine lets you eat on top of rows of macarons, chocolate truffles and nougat so you never lose focus on their pastries.
Susan asks if this is a favorite of mine? Not at all. I'm ready to experiment these days after eating at least 20 tarte au citron meringuees.
Third time Susan is indulging in this Pouchkine fantasie... 
Susan's description:
'I don't know what it's called but it was a rolled lemon poppy cake with salted butter caramel. The meringues around the side melted like snowflakes in my mouth.'
Is teatime pricy at Cafe Pouchkine? About 10+ euros each but your surrounded by luxe, calme et volupte. At least until the crowds (other PBers) arrive. Go early and enjoy.
Susan is having a book signing at Rizzoli Tuesday night 5:30 - 7:30
There will be pastries (not from Cafe Pouchkine malheueusement...ahem)
Is teatime pricy at Cafe Pouchkine? About 10+ euros each but your surrounded by luxe, calme et volupte. At least until the crowds (other PBers) arrive. Go early and enjoy.
Susan is having a book signing at Rizzoli Tuesday night 5:30 - 7:30There will be pastries (not from Cafe Pouchkine malheueusement...ahem)
Bonjour Paris Rendez-vous
Invitation au Cafe Pouchkine, magic!
ReplyDeleteI am sure, Charles Baudelaire would have loved it,
là, tout n'est qu'ordre et beauté, luxe, calme et volupté. .. ;-)
I must say I adore your blog! It's so full of great info and pictures.....total eye candy :)
ReplyDeleteWhy am I always hungry after viewing your blog? :-)
ReplyDeletePlease tell us about the face on the plates. Do you know who it is?
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
I have never tried Café Pouchkine, but after a quick look at all these appetizing pastries, I am adding it to my list of places to see during my next visit. Merci, Carol-- Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
ReplyDeleteOh Carol...
ReplyDelete"What is a 'Medovick'? Does it matter? "
Yes, it does. It's a delicious honey cake from Eastern Europe - though I believe its more properly a Medovnik.
Since the cafe has a Russian theme (Alexander Pushkin was a Russian poet) the name of the cake is correct, it is Medovick.
DeleteMedovnick sounds Polish or Slovak, but I'm not sure. And, yes it is a honey cake.
That lemon cake salted caramel meringue thing - oh my. Makes my toast with soy nut butter for breakfast seem a little dull. OK, a lot dull.
ReplyDeletela vie est belle chez paris breakfasts!
ReplyDeleteI love Susan's new book! I think it's one of the most creative Paris books I've seen in a while.
ReplyDeleteLucky you for having a pastry date with her!
I don't care how many photo I see of Paris pastry, I am always..always in awe. Susan's book looks like a delight. Carol hope all is well, and the sun will soon be shining!
ReplyDeleteI love Leslie C.!!
Cheers x Deb
You introduce us to so many pastry shop wonders.. L'aquarelle..est belle aussi!
ReplyDeleteThanks to our unfortunate metro mix-up we landed in the perfect spot! Thanks again, Carol,
ReplyDeletefor your enthusiasm about my book, and thanks also to those who have said such nice things about it! See you tomorrow...
Maybe I'm hungry, but the pastries in this post seem to be the most finely crafted ones I've seen. I'm amazed at the eye-appeal that they have.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that they taste good, too!
So glad you were able to make connection with Susan later. Looks like it was worth the wait. Yummy looking deserts!
ReplyDeleteoops.. that desserts.. :))
ReplyDeleteBelieve me Cris,
ReplyDeletegetting lost at Metro Franklin Roosevelt is like being lost in the desert...
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThe picture of the Eclair Tvorog
means an eclair with quark. It's also sometimes translated to be cottage cheese...but really it's not. I'd say more like mascarpone maybe.
Yum!
Love your blog!!!
-Susan
Wonderful watercolor, Carol! I'm glad you were finally able to meet up! All those sweets! Yikes!
ReplyDeleteI will study that photo of Eclair Tvorog, as I regularily make quark. it is creamy & sweet, unlike yogurt cheese. Easy peasy to make. Maybe I will have better luck with tis than the macaron...
ReplyDeleteI thought the rose Pouchkine was pleasing to look at, so it must taste wonderful!?
What paths you do lead PBers down!
What a mouth-watering post, Carol.
ReplyDeleteI'm reminded of when I was a little kid, running outside on snowy days, catching fluffy snowflakes on my tongue, and how they always tasted like lemon merinque melting in my mouth.
Love Susan's description! her pastry looks scrumptious. Terrific post.
ReplyDeletetwo new must dos:
ReplyDelete1. Go to pouchkine
2. Buy Pastry Paris
Thankk you Carol, I always enjoy your posts and so do our followers
Is the FDR stop the one designed by Esher and/or Kafka? The one that it is impossible to find your way out of because it has steps and moving sidewalks that go nowhere? We were lost for at least 15 minutes there and ended up going out an entrance.n
ReplyDeleteI think that's another one Bevgrey.
ReplyDeleteOr two...
like chateau les Halles
Or Havre Caumartine
Or...oh there are sooo many confusing Metro stations!
This post and its title remind me of an old French song (by Bécaud):
ReplyDelete"...
Elle parlait en phrases sobres
De la révolution d'octobre
Je pensais déjà
Qu'après le tombeau de Lénine
On irait au café Pouchkine
Boire un chocolat
..."
When Bécaud sang this, in the 1960s, some French tourists started to search for that "café Pouchkine" in Moscow. So Dellos created it. A very clever idea!!!
It was much visited, very successful ... and then world-wide known ...
http://www.cafe-pushkin.ru/
Marie-Noëlle - and "Nathalie" ;)
Tres merci Marie-Noëlle - and "Nathalie" !
ReplyDeleteEt tres information interessant comme toujours!
J'adore beaucoup aussi le siteweb de/du Cafe Pouchkine
xxcarolg
I can see it now - my first stop at a Paris Confisserie. I order and sit back to enjoy my pastry and eavesdrop on the little French conversation at the table next door, and all I hear is," Carol said this one has the best tarte au citron".
ReplyDelete"What is a 'Medovick'? Does it matter?"
ReplyDeleteA medovik is a Russian honey cake - "med" is the word for honey in all Slavic languages.