Neige D'ete - Paris

To sum up how much I loved Neige Dete, I booked it immediately for my birthday after the first visit. It didn't disappoint, my birthday dinner was even better than my first meal there. The restaurant is very small, only 7 tables or so. All the staff and chefs are Japanese, including the sommelier, which I'm starting to believe it's the best trend in Paris at the moment. Japanese chefs cooking French food really does blend the best of both worlds. French food is often thought to be very heavy and buttery, but the Japanese way gives it a very light finish, much cleaner. The post tasting menu feeling is more uplifting than let's just all crush on the floor. Not to be deceived though, you will feel very very full after. They got their first Michelin star very quickly and it's still a very young restaurant (2 years), yet it's very well known in the foodie world and it constantly have people coming from all around the world to try the food. I'm very very glad to have discovered this place, for sure there will be many more meals to come. 

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Favourite Patisserie in Paris

Jacques Genin

There is often a saying, if you only have time for one patisserie in Paris, go Jacques Genin because it's impossible to go wrong. That's true, I've yet to have something I don't love at Jacques Genin. The millefeuille is made fresh on site, freshly pipped and stacked in the upstairs kitchen. The lemon and basil tart is legendary and I've yet to try something better than this. On your way out, buy some of their caramels, which are just the most perfect texture. It doesn't stick to your teeth, doesn't have grainy bits and very light to eat. For sure the best caramel I've ever come across. 

Millefeuile Vanilla 

Lemon and basil tart

Caramel Tart

Du Pain et Des Idees

The most famous bakery in Paris? Rightly deserved. It's so old school and everything so so good. The escargots are their speciality but I actually find them a bit too sweet but the pastry is just another world buttery. I love their bread and fresh tarts like apple, apricot etc, depends on the season. Do not buy to go and wait ages to eat them, they taste best when eaten there. 

Pistachio and chocolate Escargot

Paris Brest - Bistrot Paul Bert

Having tried many Paris Brest from famous patisseries later, the classic from Bistrot Paul Bert is still my favourite, much lighter than all the others. Yes even better than the Jacques Genin one, although both very good. 

Pierre Herme

Pierre Herme at Paris is a completely different game. Having tried many cakes over the years I still find theirs the most challenging and perfect. The raspberry, rose and lychee croissant is just so unusual with this surprising jam inside (croissant Isphahan). The vanilla tart is unlike anything I've tried before, gorgeous layering inside too. Only the store at 7th has the croissant. 

Vanilla tart

Croissant Ispahan

Mori Yoshida

I haven't tried many things at Mori Yoshida, only the apple tart, which is still one of the best I've come across. Beautiful thin pastry and the perfect apple acidity vs sweetness. Really need to go back to try the Mont Blanc next round.

Apple Tart

Angelina 

Angelina has opened all around the world now but as always things taste different and much better in Paris. Hot chocolate and Mont Blanc are their signature items. Before this I've tried many many Mont Blancs, all Japanese style, which use fresh chestnuts, all very sweet and use too much cream. The Mont Blanc at Angelina made me rediscover the love for the French way of making it, using candied chestnut and double amounts of chestnut cream in one cake. It's got a beautiful grainy chestnut texture, just the finest example of a perfect Mont Blanc.

Apple Tart - Poilane 

Poilane has shops in London too but the apple tart is just not as good as the ones in Paris. It's really different to the fancy Mori Yoshida version, more rustic. More like a apple pastry than tart but definitely one of the best apple tarts in Paris. 

Patrick Rogers

The most famous chocolatier in Paris? He's won the MOF! I really love his chocolates, the flavours are so unique. I buy a massive box to go when I'm in Paris.