Category Archives: Uncategorized

As nationalities, we are all so different, but really we are the same.  Take the idea of moving from place to place and tasting tiny morsels of food as you make your way around the town. The British go on pub crawls, enjoying a glass of beer in each hostelry (OK, that’s not really food, but there may be some pork scratchings included), the Spanish equivalent is tapas – the Madrileños especially, savour a variety of tapa as they move from bar to bar.  The pâtisserie student in Paris equivalent?  Why, the tour of pastry shops around about l’heure dû thé (or tea time) – that’s what.

Before I came to Paris, I was the only person I know who found immense pleasure in just wandering round food places in the same way that other people wander round art galleries.  Again, we are all so different, but really we are the same.  As art lovers can stare at a Rodin or Van Gogh for hours, appreciating the form and beauty, I can stare at food – any type of food – sweet or savoury, and admire the talent and creativity that it takes to create such an object.  The French have got this down to a fine art, all of their food is beautiful to look at, especially their pastries.

When a fellow student mentioned that she had lined up a few shops in the Odéon area of Paris, a few of us jumped at the chance to join her on her tour, and by join, I really mean follow.  I have to admit it was great to be a ‘sheep’ for once, I am usually the one, map in hand, who has done all the research and is leading the troops from place to place.

Our first stop was Un Dimanche à Paris, hidden down an alleyway a few steps from Odéon Métro station.  Here we were happy to find a couple of savoury, as well as sweet, treats – the savoury treats were also gluten free, not something you find a lot of in France.  Just like alcoholics, we decided to pace ourselves with just a couple of pastries between us as we were looking forward to a gut-busting trip.

Round 2 was Gérard Mulot, we first of all stumbled across the tea room which was completely empty of both people and pâtisserie!  There really is nothing worse than a cake shop with empty display cabinets, we wonder what all the fuss was about and decide to move on.  About 10 metres further down the road, at number 76 rue de Seine is what I would call the ‘proper’ shop.  I really think there might be something in this pastry lark, they are selling a Daquoise in the window for €42!  The only difference between their’s and mine was the addition of a few raspberries around the edge – I might have to start charging.

€35!

Round 3 was La Maison du Chou – a place specialising in all things made from Choux Pastry.  The place looks adorable but is unfortunately closed (this is France after all) so we head off elsewhere and on the way, we are transfixed by the windows of Macaron Gourmands Yanick Befort and decide to head inside.  Why oh why oh why didn’t I have a wedding cake made from macarons when I got married?  What a great idea, much better than the usual tiered fruit cake that nobody ever likes.

Wedding Cake Envy!

I decide to exit stage left at this point and head back home.  I’m completely exhausted and I’ve calculated that I can have a one hour power nap before I get kicked out because P has a “guest” coming over.  In the true spirit of a pub crawl, I decide to have one for the road – well, who can resist a Foie Gras macaron??

I just died and went to heaven!