Hello family, friends and even some strangers! Welcome to my food blog, Honey from the Tangerine Tree. I have for many years marveled at the thought of starting my own food blog and today is the day that I begin. Now, you may be wondering what happened to make me finally sit down and start to write (it’s only been 6 years right?). Well today I had an extraordinary sensory experience and I just couldn't help but feel like sharing it with the world!
It all began a few weeks ago; I was walking down Rue Pavée in the Marais district of Paris and happened to saunter past L’Éclair de Génie. Now I have never been much of a fan of éclairs but I could not resist looking through that window at the little marvels full of colour and pizzazz staring me straight into the eye. Some delicately brushed with gold bits, others vibrant as a beaming rainbow across the sky. It is no wonder that I had to come back to L’Éclair de Génie, to indulge into this unknown world of éclairs.
So today, at precisely 11:20, my flatmate Laura and I met my colleague, Clare, to go on a bit of a culinary adventure. A few moments later, we were treading down the cobblestones of Rue Pavée and alas, there I was again, peering into that magical window. What came next, I was not prepared for. As I opened the door and stepped in, the aroma captivated me. I stood frozen with my eyes closed as the sweet smells of this little artisan éclair shop enthralled me; I couldn't move! I was left almost speechless, except for those few tiny words of ‘’OH MY GOD’’ that kept continuing to slip out of my lips while the scents of salted caramel, chocolate praline and passion fruit raspberry danced through my nose! The three of us just gazed in awe through the counter trying to decide which one to choose; they all looked so delicious yet so beautiful that you may just want to keep it on the shelf next to your jewelry box.
It wasn't an easy decision but I ended up choosing the vanilla noix de pecan flavour. It was so beautifully composed: lightly brushed with a coat of vanilla and crushed caramelized pecans scattered on top. Then the first bite into that silky Madagascar vanilla cream; I don’t think my taste buds have ever danced for joy as they did in that very moment. Slowly and slowly, each little bite lingered over every taste bud as they held on for dear life. Not before long, that glorious wonderful éclair vanished into thin air! The site of it just a fragment of my memory now but the taste will forever be embedded in my ‘buds!
Of course you know the saying ‘sharing is caring’, so naturally, we could not let one another go without trying a little nibble of each other’s éclairs. Clare chose the luxurious N⁰98 Framboisier éclair. I must admit, at first glance into the display case, this is the one that caught my eye too! So elegantly fabricated with creamy pistachio ganache garnished with plump, fresh raspberries and finally topped with pistachio, candied raspberries and fresh mint to boot! Then, that first bite into it and raspberry jam sends you into euphoria. And the way it unfolds in your mouth; the different textures of the sweet, fruity softness of the jam followed by the crunch of the pistachio and candied raspberries all binding together to give you a perfectly balanced éclair experience!
Now when Laura picked the pomme vanille flavour, I must admit, I was a bit skeptical at first. Despite the gold dust sprinkled on top, the neon green icing did not appeal to me as much (but I suppose you can say it matched her radiant personality). Nonetheless, I was still game to try it. What appeared to be so simple turned out to be a soft yet violent eruption of sweet granny smith apples in your mouth. A bright green cream oozed out and slithered down your throat splashing waves of apple and vanilla, again leaving my taste buds rejoicing and clinching on to every last bite!
Thank you Éclairs de Génie for converting me into a new-found éclair enthusiast! I am looking forward to going back to that glorious patisserie to treat myself to one of the new éclairs glacés in the very near future...and of course, to try all the different flavours in that glorious display case!
It all began a few weeks ago; I was walking down Rue Pavée in the Marais district of Paris and happened to saunter past L’Éclair de Génie. Now I have never been much of a fan of éclairs but I could not resist looking through that window at the little marvels full of colour and pizzazz staring me straight into the eye. Some delicately brushed with gold bits, others vibrant as a beaming rainbow across the sky. It is no wonder that I had to come back to L’Éclair de Génie, to indulge into this unknown world of éclairs.
So today, at precisely 11:20, my flatmate Laura and I met my colleague, Clare, to go on a bit of a culinary adventure. A few moments later, we were treading down the cobblestones of Rue Pavée and alas, there I was again, peering into that magical window. What came next, I was not prepared for. As I opened the door and stepped in, the aroma captivated me. I stood frozen with my eyes closed as the sweet smells of this little artisan éclair shop enthralled me; I couldn't move! I was left almost speechless, except for those few tiny words of ‘’OH MY GOD’’ that kept continuing to slip out of my lips while the scents of salted caramel, chocolate praline and passion fruit raspberry danced through my nose! The three of us just gazed in awe through the counter trying to decide which one to choose; they all looked so delicious yet so beautiful that you may just want to keep it on the shelf next to your jewelry box.
It wasn't an easy decision but I ended up choosing the vanilla noix de pecan flavour. It was so beautifully composed: lightly brushed with a coat of vanilla and crushed caramelized pecans scattered on top. Then the first bite into that silky Madagascar vanilla cream; I don’t think my taste buds have ever danced for joy as they did in that very moment. Slowly and slowly, each little bite lingered over every taste bud as they held on for dear life. Not before long, that glorious wonderful éclair vanished into thin air! The site of it just a fragment of my memory now but the taste will forever be embedded in my ‘buds!
Of course you know the saying ‘sharing is caring’, so naturally, we could not let one another go without trying a little nibble of each other’s éclairs. Clare chose the luxurious N⁰98 Framboisier éclair. I must admit, at first glance into the display case, this is the one that caught my eye too! So elegantly fabricated with creamy pistachio ganache garnished with plump, fresh raspberries and finally topped with pistachio, candied raspberries and fresh mint to boot! Then, that first bite into it and raspberry jam sends you into euphoria. And the way it unfolds in your mouth; the different textures of the sweet, fruity softness of the jam followed by the crunch of the pistachio and candied raspberries all binding together to give you a perfectly balanced éclair experience!
Now when Laura picked the pomme vanille flavour, I must admit, I was a bit skeptical at first. Despite the gold dust sprinkled on top, the neon green icing did not appeal to me as much (but I suppose you can say it matched her radiant personality). Nonetheless, I was still game to try it. What appeared to be so simple turned out to be a soft yet violent eruption of sweet granny smith apples in your mouth. A bright green cream oozed out and slithered down your throat splashing waves of apple and vanilla, again leaving my taste buds rejoicing and clinching on to every last bite!
Thank you Éclairs de Génie for converting me into a new-found éclair enthusiast! I am looking forward to going back to that glorious patisserie to treat myself to one of the new éclairs glacés in the very near future...and of course, to try all the different flavours in that glorious display case!