Remember I tried to get into La Galerie des Gobelins with dear Raids-Patisserie and it was no-go?
Later I found myself in front of the Plaza Athenee 25, Avenue Montaigne 75008 and no # 80 buses running.
What's a girl to do?
What's a girl to do?
They were filming in front of Hotel Plaza Athenee. And Milla said I could go for tea if I went on a weekday so...
Voila! Easy peasy
Completement effortless
After all I must do dessert research.
Louise/Raids-Patisseries says pastry chef Christophe Michalak is tres important in the Paris pastry world. He has innovated and totally changed old traditional hotel dessert/les douceurs menus to something far more ingenious and fabulous.
It's a must-do bien sur.
Please do not moan about les prix/prices.
This is an affordable luxury darlings.
Please do not moan about les prix/prices.
This is an affordable luxury darlings.
My choice - a verrine of Yuzu/an exotic citrus type fruit plus creaminess plus a thin layer of lemon curd topped with the famous French fraises du bois - tiny rare wild strawberries. A 'crumble' cookie was glued to the lid to add a bit of crunch to the whole thing
The delish cookie crumbled making a bit of a mess. Nevermind. No one is looking. I ate every crumb.
In fact the whole dessert and the Gobelins experience was quite divine. The dessert is a nice contrast of creaminess + tart acid + crunchy texture. Very well designed, layered and satisfying.
An interview here with Michalak.
5 recommendations from Christophe Michalak:
1. Work with your heart
2. Offer pleasure to others
3. Go straight to the essential, pure, simple, clear!
4. One eats first with the eyes
5. A single goal: to touch the emotions
An interview here with Michalak.
5 recommendations from Christophe Michalak:
1. Work with your heart
2. Offer pleasure to others
3. Go straight to the essential, pure, simple, clear!
4. One eats first with the eyes
5. A single goal: to touch the emotions
You can eat outside on the terrasse at the Plaza...
Museum-like cases displaying chef Michalak's prize-winning desserts when he won Champion du monde pastry chef his caramel religieuse
A summery white chocolate tong (flip-flop to you darlings)
Michalak's famous kissy bear lollie pops, Les Bisousbisous - I told you lollie pops/sucette are hot in Paris!
Paris is Bear City.
Every classy joint has it's signature bear including the Plaza Athenee. I'm lucky to have classy Bear around to keep me on my toes.
I'm off to catch the train to the Loire Vallee today (wish this was moi). I'll keep you posted on more PB exciting adventures.
Stay tuned PBers!
So lucky you are to be visiting the Loire Valley. Will you have time to visit the Chateau Villandry? See the beautiful garden and see this lovely exhibition of vegetable paintings? You will feel healthy!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.chateauvillandry.fr/en/mk-events/15-june-to-11-november-charlotte-thodey-paintingsles-bijoux-dun-jardin-aux-antipodes-the-jewels-of-a-garden-in-the-antipodes/
I enjoy your blog, and have done for many years. Thankyou xxx
I'm staying in just one chateau...not tearing around in my usual fashion here.
DeleteBut it's like being asked to stay overnight at the Frick Museum or the Cognac-Jay in Paris.
Full of gorgeous antiques and gargoyles outside
I want to paint every corner!
so you are going to enjoy "la vie de chateau"... I am really curious which one you are going to. I hope I don't have to wait too long for your next post....
DeleteIt's great fun that you've been updating so frequently!
ReplyDeleteNice to follow the daily life of a "parisienne" :D
Ah the Loire Valley! Mr. Man and I were supposed to go last weekend, but it was pouring cats and dogs! I think the weather is supposed to be better this week, so I am super excited for you!
ReplyDeleteWill you be back in Paris anytime this week? Would love to see you before I go to Barcelona on Friday!
x Milla
(http://littlepiecesoflight.blogspot.fr/)
I'm back the 18th and don't ask me what day that is...
DeleteI drank too much wine at lunch :)
Bon voyage in Barcelona M.
Oh to have been able to join you for tea on that terrasse! How cute is that waiter in his pink waistcoat? Hope the Loire is wonderful and that the sun is shining for you ...
ReplyDeletethose desserts do look divine! another must when i go to Paris someday!
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ReplyDeleteWow, I enjoyed your post today. I would love to visit and eat in the Hotel Plaza Athenee one day. The dessert you ate look so delicious! It is like haute couture of desserts!
ReplyDeleteExactement!
DeleteHaute couture desserts - wildly inventive and a unique tasting experience.
Carol, again I thank you for your excellent reporting! Those desserts really are extravagant visual creations, and I am glad that you were able to verify that at least one of them was also delicious.
ReplyDeleteThe outdoor photos seem to indicate that the sun returned. Hoping it will also shine on the Loire. (It's another area of la belle France that I've been researching, so I will pay close attention to your next posts.)
Hoping for a photo of Bear enjoying dappled sunlight under leafy trees ... or enjoying chateau splendor.
xo
xo
The weather here has been perfect as far as I'm concerned since it isn't unbearably hot or humid.
DeleteRain, sun, hail, grey skies or overcast is all fine.
Bear is dieting so staying away from sweets, ahem
Oh my. After seeing what the waiter was wearing, I hope you were properly dressed!
ReplyDeleteThank you for Paris Breakfasts!
ReplyDeleteYour drawings, the photography, the topics, the observations - all delightful and interesting.
Love the book references.
And, I have become a big fan of the macaron and was ecstatic to find a vendor at a local farmer's market who specializes in this wonderful treat!
I am told that they will be the 'next cupcake' craze.
I hope so as it has not been well known at all in Northeast Ohio.
Thanks
Bonnie
That terrasse:) Wouaou!
ReplyDeleteI have been to a pretty one here at the Ritz for tea..but that one..well exquisite.
You are so good at getting pics in places.
I can't believe you went there without me ;)
ReplyDeleteThe desserts look wonderful
I love how elegant that hotel is - you took great shots!
ReplyDeleteThe pastries look as posh as the hotel's interior.
So you're going to the hinterlands? Have fun!
(I'm not saying anything about metro-girl!)
Carol,
ReplyDeleteWhat great fun that you went to the Plaza Athenee after our lunch. One of the first gifts I gave my husband was a 1950s tourist map of Paris from the Plaza Athenee that I found in my storage in NY.
Excellent snaps -- and love the fact that you photographed the empty glass!
xx
Daisy
I'm a Paris Map maniac
DeleteI would LOVE to see that 1950s map sometime..
How far thinking of you to collect it for the future M. de Plume!
The presentation of your dessert is simply amazing....of course, I assume that little transparent lid is glass, like all the rest of it. How utterly unexpected!
ReplyDeleteYes the container was glass.
Deletetoo bad it was not also edible...
Yay, you made it there! This is such good news. Isn't it exquisite? Dessert doesn't get any better. Definitely my favourite and most visited place in Paris. Christophe Michalak is a pastry genius!
ReplyDeleteNext time I'm in Paris, we should have tea together.
Magnifique! Extraordinaire! You always have the best Parisian adventures... I am feeling jealous from the East Village...
ReplyDeleteBut you are the Queen of New York Sweets!
DeleteWho can keep up with you?
Oh I want to eat on terrasse at the Plaza..Love how it looks. Look forward to more adventures.
ReplyDeleteEvery single day in Paris is a bit of an adventure for sure!
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