Les Fees Patissieres - in the labo

Last week in the afternoon I went back to Les Fees Patissieres to visit the labo and look behind the scenes.

 

On 21, rue Rambuteau 75004

 

Les Fees means fairies. Inside the shop is a sophisticated wonderland

 

Beautiful little bites or bouchées, so pretty on the outside, layered and complex inside.

 

There is a new flavor every month. For Saint-Valentines meringue with framboise and roses awaits

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This banana-caramel bouchée was calling my name.

 

Upstairs in the labo the elves and fairies had left for the day. They start at 6:30 and leave by 3. Still the pristine mixing bowls and utensils.

 

Reminded me of a Chardin still life.

 

Though not the very pink Kitchen Aide.

 

One of I creators, Deborah Lévy drew me a diagram of the inside of a I - a many layered affair.

 

Time to taste the tarte vanille. All 12 creations in the collection are takeoffs on classic French pastry like Paris Brest, tarte au citron, baba, religeuse, Saint Honoré, Opera, fraisier. Top pastry chef Eddie Benghanem of the Trianon Palace, Versailles drops in twice a week to brainstorm on new flavors and shapes.

 

The other partner, Sarah Harb does the hands-on sugar sculpting. I asked her to cut my vanilla bit in two to shoot it.

 

Perfect! Anything vanilla has become irresistible since I moved to Paris and learned the ways of the real bean. This charmer has 3 different beans represented - Tahiti, Bourbon and Indian throughout it's 4 layers.

 

Next taste up, banana-caramel

 

I decided to cut it in two myself. Uh oh. These are like sushi. You can eat them in 1-2 bites easily, but stop to savor the multi-flavors and textures.

 

Sarah and Deborah make special occasion cakes with the lightest of touches.

 

Almost too pretty to eat.

 

Sarah learned to do sugar paste work on London and New York.

 

Boxes for the little bouchées. Fait Attention! Please do not swing or bounce your mini cakes.

 

And pretty boxes for party cakes. Very clever of Sarah and Déborah to have caramels on hand since it's used often in the little cakes. Les Fees Patissieres is fun and fanciful - a don't miss in my opinion.