I would seriously move to the Mission Dolores area for one reason alone: Tartine Bakery. Tartine is so quintessentially San Francisco - the crowd is a diverse mix of hippies, hipsters and yuppies of all races and age groups congregating at shared tables (or separate tables thisclose to each other so that you might as well be sharing a table) over newspapers, chess games, and the perfection embodied by Tartine's frangipane croissants, lemon tarts, bread pudding and croque monsieurs.
Yes, you'll have to wait 30 minutes in line just to order one croissant, so make sure you order EVERYTHING you want the first time around because you don't want to underorder then debate (after finishing off your croissant, smacking your lips and licking your fingers) whether you should get in the now 45-minute line to order that other pastry you were eyeing.
Tartine makes me oh-so-happy. Even though my visits to Tartine are rare (it's just so out of the way for me), it makes me happy just to know that it exists and that if I am craving a perfect cup of bread pudding covered with fresh berries, or a cup of muesli made with Strauss organic yogurt and chock full of muesli, nuts and fruit, or a perfect flaky frangipane croissant oozing with almond paste filling, or a perfect tangy and creamy lemon tart, I know exactly where to find it in San Francisco.
Tartine, je t'aime.
Food rating: **** and a half
Bang for buck rating: 4
The essentials:
http://www.tartinebakery.com/
Location: 600 Guerrero Street, San Francisco
Average price of meal for two: $30
Showing posts with label patisserie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label patisserie. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Laduree
I never visit Paris without making at least one visit to Laduree, one of my favorite patisseries in the world. Just looking at their display case full of macarons, eclairs, croissants and other delectable sweets makes me happy! I've dined at Laduree on a couple occasions as well and recommend ordering from the brunch/tea menu rather than the savory lunch/dinner menu. While Laduree's viennoiserie selection is simply exquisite, served with butter wrapped in its own Laduree signature light mint green paper and various jams, the savory food selections are unspectacular (though prettily presented).
Along with the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, D'Orsay Museum, Notre Dame and Arc de Triomphe, a visit to Laduree is a MUST for any visit to Paris!
Laduree on the Champs Elysees
Patisserie case
More patisserie choices
Lamb filet - undercooked and bland, not recommended
Cold tomato and pistachio souffle - so salty I actually got a headache! Stick to the macarons!
A box full of Laduree macarons is a box full of happiness
Viennoiserie selection - so decadent, so delicious
Food rating: ****
Bang for buck rating: 3.5
The essentials:
http://www.laduree.fr/
Location: 75 avenue des Champs Elysees
Average price of macaron: 1.80 euros
Along with the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, D'Orsay Museum, Notre Dame and Arc de Triomphe, a visit to Laduree is a MUST for any visit to Paris!
Laduree on the Champs Elysees
Patisserie case
More patisserie choices
Lamb filet - undercooked and bland, not recommended
Cold tomato and pistachio souffle - so salty I actually got a headache! Stick to the macarons!
A box full of Laduree macarons is a box full of happiness
Viennoiserie selection - so decadent, so deliciousFood rating: ****
Bang for buck rating: 3.5
The essentials:
http://www.laduree.fr/
Location: 75 avenue des Champs Elysees
Average price of macaron: 1.80 euros
Monday, July 5, 2010
Patisserie Potager
I love the concept at Patisserie Potager, a whimsical bakery in Nakameguro, one of my favorite areas in Tokyo - vegetable cakes and desserts, from carrot-chocolate flan to edamame cheesecake to asparagus swiss roll cake. It's so different, so strange, so uniquely Japan! The patisserie has garnered a loyal following, not surprisingly consisting mostly of the female variety.
While I love the concept, I think the veggie flavors in the form of dessert confused my tastebuds. The asparagus swiss roll cake was a spongy, grain-flavored cake which was subtle and moist, but the asparagus cream filling tasted very much like cold asparagus cream soup. However, I admire the chef for keeping true to the flavors of the vegetables instead of trying to mask them with sugar, chocolate or spices (for example, American style carrot cake tastes delicious mostly because of the cinnamon in the cake and the sugary cream cheese frosting, whereas Potager's carrot desserts actually taste like carrots)!
Though vegetable cakes aren't necessarily my cup of tea, I highly recommend a visit to Patisserie Potager for a truly unique dessert experience!
Kabocha squash chiffon cake
Tomato Mont Blanc
Avocado layer cheese cake
Asparagus swiss roll cake
Tomato chiffon cake
Food rating: ***
Bang for buck rating: 4
The essentials:
http://www.potager.co.jp/
Location: 2-44-9 Kamimeguro
Average price of dessert for two: 1000 yen (~$12)
While I love the concept, I think the veggie flavors in the form of dessert confused my tastebuds. The asparagus swiss roll cake was a spongy, grain-flavored cake which was subtle and moist, but the asparagus cream filling tasted very much like cold asparagus cream soup. However, I admire the chef for keeping true to the flavors of the vegetables instead of trying to mask them with sugar, chocolate or spices (for example, American style carrot cake tastes delicious mostly because of the cinnamon in the cake and the sugary cream cheese frosting, whereas Potager's carrot desserts actually taste like carrots)!
Though vegetable cakes aren't necessarily my cup of tea, I highly recommend a visit to Patisserie Potager for a truly unique dessert experience!
Kabocha squash chiffon cake
Tomato Mont Blanc
Avocado layer cheese cake
Asparagus swiss roll cake
Tomato chiffon cakeFood rating: ***
Bang for buck rating: 4
The essentials:
http://www.potager.co.jp/
Location: 2-44-9 Kamimeguro
Average price of dessert for two: 1000 yen (~$12)
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