French Pastry

Madeleine Medley Episode 1 – Sesame Madeleine

May 15, 2010

Madeleines, the famous magical ‘cookies’ that gave French author, Marcel Proust that shuddering moment of epiphany. This synopsis from Proust’s ‘Remembrance of Things Past’ – Swann’s Way has been so well published and referenced that the Madeleine has practically become Proust’s cookie.. “She sent for one of those squat, plump little cakes called “petites madeleines,” [...]

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Coffee Rum Raisin Dacquoise

December 28, 2009

My first job with a Japanese company, almost 20 years ago had brought me many new first experiences. I ate Zaru soba and sashimi for the first time in my life during my welcome lunch. Things were rather different then- Japanese food was not as ubiquitous as today. I remember also looking forward to every Japanese guest/boss’s visit- [...]

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Last PostCard From Paris – Laduree, Mariage Freres, Green Tea Financier

December 2, 2009

2 days in Paris is too short to do anything properly but as I sort through my stash of photographs, I was suprised that there is still a treasure trough of momentos.. I am stealing time off to put up this post so it will have to be a short one – lest someone at work sees [...]

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Postcard From Paris – Part 3 : Breaking Into My Madeleine Pan

November 22, 2009

The Madeleines were once chosen to represent France in the Cafe Europe in 2006. Such is the iconic stature of these little sponge cakes. Proust,of course had further immortalised it for most of us in his novel, Remembrance of Things Past where he described Madeleines as “little shell of cake, so generously sensual beneath the piety [...]

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Caneles, Canneles? – French Pastry

October 19, 2009

One of the things I like about traditional French Pastry is that every pastry seem to have a legend or story behind it. Some of these legends are mysterious and have been handed down from generation to generation… giving the pastry chefs who are still working with these recipes a sense of mission and making them [...]

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Apricot Chocolate Tart – Another One For The Petit Fours Collection

September 23, 2009

This is another tartlet recipe from Desserts By Pierre Herme and I couldn’t agree more with Dorie Greenspan’s warning – this is DANGEROUS. Enjoy this with a very conscious restrain. The apricot, steeped in lemon juice,honey and a dash of pepper(so clever) is plump with a refreshing sweetness. When these are used to pack the [...]

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Orange Tartlets… My First Pierre Herme Recipe

August 25, 2009

I believe most avid cooks/bakers share the same insatiable impulse to possess every glossy and delicious looking cookbook that crosses their path.Before we know it, the book shelf is spilling over with the 4th cookbook dedicated solely to chiffon cake, the 6th cookbook on chocolate desserts….I have not dared to count the number of cook [...]