Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Pâtisserie Hunt I -- Dalloyau


Several weeks ago I mentioned the hunt for new pâtisseries, not new to Paris, but ones that my daughter Holly and I had not tried. When you find a wonderful pâtisserie it can become a habit that prevents you from branching out. How sad would it be to miss the most incredible pastry because you are set in your routine.

Our goal last December was to find at least five pâtisseries and to make notes. When you make a scientific study out of something like this it empowers you to "taste in the name of mankind" or some foolishness like that. So, our first excursion was to the 8th arr. to Dalloyau with over 200 years as a premier pâtisserie. It is best known perhaps for its L'Opéra, a cake of alternating layers of coffee-soaked almond cake, coffee cream and chocolate which is seen just to the left of the lovely La Prima Donna -- miam-miam!

As you can see from the photo above, the prices are a bit steep but it is reported that they have over 100 pastry cooks or should we say "artists" for these exquisite creations.

Dalloyau
101, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré

13 comments:

cocoa and coconut said...

Oh wow! In my last trip to Paris I took this exact photo, however yours is much better quality. I do certianly remember you proclaiming your quest for patisseries, and I'm glad its still going well.

Amanda said...

Yes, expensive but so worth it!

Virginia said...

How would you get the nerve to actually cut this pricey concoction?? L'Opéra, now I could cut into that one in a heartbeat!

MadAboutParis said...

A purpose-driven itinerary...je l'adore!

Sara Louise said...

I'm not a sweet person, I've always preferred the savory, but the descriptions have my mouth watering

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Brittany -- I will be posting from time to time on les pâtisseries we discovered. Sadly, I did not pursue them as vigorously in June as I did in December. When the weather is not the best, running from pâtisserie to pâtisserie beats thinking about the cold or the rain. Merci!

Nadege -- I think that they do a great business. For me, the price of the photo was only the treats I purchased at a much lesser price!

Virginia -- I agree!

Mad -- When you get two type-A people together on a pastry mission it is very serious!

Sara Louise -- Dalloyau has of course several locations in Paris and about half of them are salons de tea. I just bet that they serve up some great quiches and other savory dishes.

Loree said...

Oh my goodness, I want a piece of all those cakes. They look absolutely divine.

Je m'appelle Cynthia said...

That is a beautiful creation - and wow, expensive, yes! I just read about some chocolates (http://www.mastbrotherschocolate.com)in the US priced at $90something - so I am not too shocked.

James said...

That's a work of art. :)

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Loree -- They had some spectacular creations for sure!

Tu t'appelles Cynthia -- Thanks for the link! I know of 2 artisan chocolate makers but had not heard of Mast Brothers in Brooklyn. Merci!

James -- I would love to watch it being made. Don't you think that they have a mold for the torso and a separate one for the skirt?

Thanks for posting, all!

Alexa said...

Just checked out the link provided by Cynthia. Too bad for me—that amazing chocolate is sold in six different places in my Brooklyn neighborhood. You and your daughter had a brilliant idea here, and I'm glad you're sharing! Looking forward to more from this delicious experiment.

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Alexa -- I love the small chocolate specialists around our country. How great that we have some artisans of our own!

M said...

Genie,

We failed miserably in juin. Do-overs??? J'espere!!!