Le Patissier – Raspberry Charlotte

How could my wife and I go to a French bakery and only get a croissant and no dessert?  We didn’t!  While I ordered the Almond Cream Croissant at Le Patissier in Corvallis Oregon, my wife ordered a more exotic pastry: Raspberry Charlotte.  I am sure it was hard for her to choose, as all the dessert pastries in the display case looked wonderful.

I thought the Mont Blanc desserts looked delicious and it was not until I returned home and looked at the pictures did I realized that they have little faces drawn in white icing.  Those are the same smiles we had on our faces when we were at the top of the Aiguille Du Midi which is just below the summit of Mont Blanc, the highest peak of the Alps.

There were so many desserts from which to choose.  I always enjoy eating the fruit tarts, and éclairs.  However, we had never eaten a Raspberry Charlotte, so it was a new adventure for us.

While we ate, I managed to arrange a trade with my wife for a bite of my Almond Cream Croissant for a bite of her Raspberry Charlotte.  In some ways, I wish I had ordered the Raspberry Charlotte.  Looking at the dessert, I thought the outside layer was a hard cookie (like lady finger’s) similar to the recipe I made for Chocolate Russe.  However it was actually a light sponge cake that is baked in a sheet, the back is trimmed to make it thinner and more flexible, and then it is cut to the correct length to fit around the outside of the dessert.

The filling was a very light and flavorful raspberry mousse sitting on a circle of sponge cake and topped with dense whipped cream and white chocolate shavings.  I enjoyed my bite and my wife really enjoyed the remainder of the pastry.

I think that it’s a good thing that the La Patissier is about 79 miles (one hour and fifty minute drive) from our house, because that distance helps me space the amount of time between visits to sample their pastries.  I did get a reference from a friend on a French bakery in Portland, so the next time we go on one of the city walks, I may have to go by and check out their offering.

Adventures In Food: Author: Kerry Howell

Le Patissier – Almond Cream Croissant

This morning I missed an early viewing of my favorite yearly two-week sporting event showing scenes of France.  I am referring to the Tour de France being shown on the Versus channel.  On a typical race day, I will get up, get my breakfast, and watch the Tour that I recorded on our DVR starting at about 5 am.  However, yesterday my wife and I drove to Corvallis Oregon to spend the night at a friend’s house.  Because we were out of town, I had to wait until this afternoon when we arrived home to watch the recorded program.

Yet this morning I did get a taste of France.  My wife and I drove about a mile from our friend’s house to a small French bakery: La Patissier.  When I walked in the door, the smell told me we were in France!  The wonderful aromas found in an authentic French bakery are unlike the smells found in US bakeries. 

I reviewed the display case and looked at all the fine pastries: several varieties of croissants, cream cheese danish, Pain au Chocolat and apple turnovers.  We made sure that we arrived at Le Patissier about 9 am, as we knew they often sell out of the popular pastries by 10 am.  Now I must admit that I already knew what I was going to order (because my wife brought one home to me the previous week), I ordered an Almond Cream Croissant.

We sat at one of the small tables and enjoyed our pastries while French music played softly in the background.  The croissant tasted just as they do in France; just crispy on the outside almost to being burned, but light and soft on the inside.  Most croissants offered to consumers in the states are soft rubbery imitations of French cooking.  The croissants sold at Le Patissier are the real thing.

What makes the Almond Cream Croissant unique is after it is baked, the croissant is sliced in half, and the center is spread with almond cream.  The almond cream is not overly sweet and adds just the right amount of creamy texture in the center of the croissant.  I savored every bite of my croissant and felt the only thing missing from my experience was the chatter of people speaking French.

I may not have been able to watch the Tour de France first thing in the morning, but I was able close my eyes and be transported to France and enjoy the wonderful smells and tastes that I have experienced in the past.  Go teams Columbia and Radio Shack!
au revoir.

Adventures In Food: Author: Kerry Howell