La Galerie des Gobelins

 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?

 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.

 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

 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!