Copyright Le Normandie, LLC. All rights reserved.
History - This is a very popular pastry in my country that you can buy in all of the
numerous pastry shops.  This pastry was created in the beginning of the 17th century
and was popularized by the writer Edmond Rostand, who speaks about it in his famous
book "Cyrano de Bergerac".   

I think this is an ideal cake for having with a cup of coffee, because, even if it is not in
sync with protocol, you can dunk it in the coffee.   Of course, you can have it any time;
the best way of eating it is your way!
Amandine aux framboises
A tart made with a pâte sablée crust filled with almond
cream and raspberries.
$4
Amandine aux poires
Here, there is less almond cream because I fill the tart
with half of a sliced, poached pear.
$4
Amandine aux myrtilles
The tart is filled with almond cream and blueberries.
$4
Pistachio
Pâte sablée with a pistachio almond cream garnished
with two amerena cherries.
$4
Individual pastries
Les Amandines - Almond Cream Tarts
Les Eclairs
History - The eclair was created during the 17th century in order to permit people to eat a
little cake very quickly without a fork or spoon.  The French even have an expression, "En
un eclair" which is like the English expression, "In the blink of an eye".  This was what
French considered fast food.

In France, you find eclairs everywhere, in pastry shops of course, but also in supermarkets.  
In Paris, you will principally find chocolate and coffee eclairs, but rarely vanilla.  I was raised
wonderful - light, not too sweet, and easy to eat.   In France, the color of the icing indicates
the flavor inside.  I was very surprised to find "eclairs" in America with chocolate icing and
vanilla cream inside!
History - Puff pastry traces its ancestry back to the ancient Greeks who spread it Catherine
de Medici.  The most famous pastry of this type is probably the "Gallette de Rois" or
Epiphany Cake.  

For my puff pastries, I use an inverse puff pastry dough.  Instead of folding the butter much
more delicate pastry.
Les patisserie en pate feuillete - Puff pastries
Eclair au chocolat
A pate a choux pastry filled with dark chocolate and
pastry cream made with Tahitian vanilla beans.  The
icing on top is dipped in chocolate flakes.
$4
Eclair au cafe
Here, the pastry cream that fills the pate a choux is
flavored with coffee extract.  The icing is decorated
with a chocolate in the shape of a coffee bean.
$4
Eclair a la vanille
A nice vanilla cream fills this pate a choux and on the
from the French Riviera.  A real treat.  My favorite.
$4
Blueberry tart for 2
The diameter of this tart is about 7 inches.  I put
almond cream on the crust to hold the fresh
blueberries.  The delicate crust doesn't like the
Michigan humidity, so you should plan to eat it quickly.
$6
Apple tart for 2
Instead of blueberries, I slice apples very thinly for the
top.  I then add cinnamon and pieces of butter before
baking it.  This is my daughter's favorite.  With a scoop
of vanilla ice cream, it's to die for.
$6
Rustic tart
This tart is very elegant and can be a nice treat for a
party.  Flaky dough is topped with lots of apples and
the crust is filled with apples too.
$16
Epiphany cake
The epiphany cake is made with 2 pieces of puff
pastry.  Inside, along with the frangipane almond
cream, a little toy is hidden.  The one that finds the toy
Christmas and Epiphany (January 6), but because of
its popularity, the time that it's available is getting
longer.  In Detroit, I found it was popular year-round,
but I only put the crown with it during the Epiphany
season.
$18
     
If you have it for a party or fancy lunch or dinner, I will recommend a nice red
wine like a Banyuls.  If you prefer a white wine, try a Riesling like Kung Fu Girl
from the Columbia Valley in Washington.
If you are having eclairs as a dessert and you are in the mood for a red wine, I
recommend a Saint-Émilion.  It's my favorite wine.  Any other time, champagne!  
For this little treat, it's worth it.