Paris by pastry, highly recommended
Jul 23rd, 2007, 09:15 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,495
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Paris by pastry, highly recommended
Two American women who call themselves Georgette et Jeanette (actually Joyce Mitchell and Beverly Thomas) have written a delightful little book, Paris by pastry. They obviously love the French way with pastries. These two trolled Paris for the best in pastry shops. They'd share a pastry every two hours--grueling work, I am sure. I wish I'd been there to help with the research.
They made sure to hit all the tourist highlights so if you're at the Tour Eiffel, you can consult their book for a pastry shop nearby. They looked for places near Metro stops. They list closing days and open hours for each shop.
I xeroxed their index of about 200 pastries to take along. Even though we're not going to Paris, it'll come in handy in any French patisserie.
They made sure to hit all the tourist highlights so if you're at the Tour Eiffel, you can consult their book for a pastry shop nearby. They looked for places near Metro stops. They list closing days and open hours for each shop.
I xeroxed their index of about 200 pastries to take along. Even though we're not going to Paris, it'll come in handy in any French patisserie.
Jul 23rd, 2007, 09:22 AM
#2
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,725
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The book sounds "delicious". I will look for a copy.
Does it recommend specific stores? or make some sense of the huge number of varieties? What is their favorite?
Thanks for the recommendation.
Does it recommend specific stores? or make some sense of the huge number of varieties? What is their favorite?
Thanks for the recommendation.
Jul 23rd, 2007, 09:56 AM
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,495
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
robjame, J et G provide a map showing patisseries, attractions, and Metro stops along the Seine. In the main part of the book they describe the pastry shops and list open hours and closing days. Then in the index, the patisseries are listed by arrondissement Some chocolatiers too but the authors are not chocolate nuts.
Dalloyau never closes, nor does Lenotre in the 8th. Well, I assume the authors mean open daily, not open 24 hours.
I'd forgotten that the book includes some recipes--who wouldn't like to whip up a charlotte aux poires et fraises du bois with one hand? Something to do on a rainy day at the gite!
Dalloyau never closes, nor does Lenotre in the 8th. Well, I assume the authors mean open daily, not open 24 hours.
I'd forgotten that the book includes some recipes--who wouldn't like to whip up a charlotte aux poires et fraises du bois with one hand? Something to do on a rainy day at the gite!
Jul 23rd, 2007, 11:23 AM
#6
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 739
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I know what you mean, kerouac. I love to look at the displays, but I can't remember the last time I actually went in and bought one -- probably not this year. I did have a tarte aux poires for dessert the other night. Although I rarely eat dessert, when the waitress mentioned that it contained pâte d'amandes, I cracked.
Mar 13th, 2009, 05:57 AM
#11
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you want to learn more about European pastry, you should really check out our new book Pastry in Europe 2009. You'll find more information on our website: http://www.PastryInEurope.com
with the sweetets regards,
Joost
with the sweetets regards,
Joost
Mar 13th, 2009, 06:13 AM
#12
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Agree, kerouac. In more than 100 trips to Paris I can't ever remember buying a pastry (or a crepe, for that matter; I don't "get" the fascination with crepes). Having to eat a pastry every two hours would be cruel and unusual punishment in my case.
Mar 13th, 2009, 06:38 AM
#13
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 26,710
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Someone recommedned this book previously and I bought it and here is my review:
Q. What could be better than a book about pastries in Paris?
A. Every other travel book I have ever read.
This is by far the most misguided, poorly organized, poorly written, misleading, worst edited travel book I have ever purchased. The cover looks like a stock photo issued by the Vichy government. OK, that can be quaint, but as I thumbed through it, I noticed many pages regarding the top tourist sights in Paris, a slew of recipes, rambling and inapplicable analogies, sleep-inducing asides and memoirs, and recitations of insipid overheard conversations.
There are simplistic graphics and poor quality black and white photos including one that appeared to be a colorfully decorated cake. This evoked a fond childhood memory. Do you remember when color TV sets first came out and they ran ads for them on your black and white set for you only to imagine what color images may look like. Oh yeah, there were some reviews of boulangeries and patisseries buried among the muck. Not one of which made me think, man does that sound delicious or I must go there. The reviews are as enticing as a sidewalk cafe next to a bus stop.
So, I decided to google the author, to see what she written and the publisher to ascertain if this was a vanity press publication. It is not.
Amazon enumerates the following books for the author: (I swear I did not make up these titles):
Tractor-Trailer Trucker: A Powerful Truck Book
Crashed, Smashed and Mashed: A Trip to Junkyard Heaven
Knuckleboom Loaders Load Logs
Her credentials clearly prepared her for Paris by Pastry.
So I prepare for my trip to Paris, I never thought I would consider Rick Steves' advice regarding eating the discarded food of others at cafeterias as brilliant.
Q. What could be better than a book about pastries in Paris?
A. Every other travel book I have ever read.
This is by far the most misguided, poorly organized, poorly written, misleading, worst edited travel book I have ever purchased. The cover looks like a stock photo issued by the Vichy government. OK, that can be quaint, but as I thumbed through it, I noticed many pages regarding the top tourist sights in Paris, a slew of recipes, rambling and inapplicable analogies, sleep-inducing asides and memoirs, and recitations of insipid overheard conversations.
There are simplistic graphics and poor quality black and white photos including one that appeared to be a colorfully decorated cake. This evoked a fond childhood memory. Do you remember when color TV sets first came out and they ran ads for them on your black and white set for you only to imagine what color images may look like. Oh yeah, there were some reviews of boulangeries and patisseries buried among the muck. Not one of which made me think, man does that sound delicious or I must go there. The reviews are as enticing as a sidewalk cafe next to a bus stop.
So, I decided to google the author, to see what she written and the publisher to ascertain if this was a vanity press publication. It is not.
Amazon enumerates the following books for the author: (I swear I did not make up these titles):
Tractor-Trailer Trucker: A Powerful Truck Book
Crashed, Smashed and Mashed: A Trip to Junkyard Heaven
Knuckleboom Loaders Load Logs
Her credentials clearly prepared her for Paris by Pastry.
So I prepare for my trip to Paris, I never thought I would consider Rick Steves' advice regarding eating the discarded food of others at cafeterias as brilliant.
Mar 13th, 2009, 06:41 AM
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I went to my library web site to see if they have a copy of this book. They do not but I found 2 other interesting books which I requested ... Desserts by Pierre Herme and Paris Sweets which sounds similar to Paris by Pastry. Can't wait to get them and start browsing!
Mar 13th, 2009, 06:47 AM
#15
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Too funny, Aduchamp1. I also did a little sleuthing, and it's really horrible stuff. Kind of like the Gallery of Regrettable Foods website, only that one is hilarious.
And the pink! OMG, spare me all that pink!
And the pink! OMG, spare me all that pink!
Mar 13th, 2009, 06:55 AM
#16
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
aduchamp - HAHAHA!
I think the worst travel book I ever bought was called "Orgasmic days in the South of France". I am not making up that title, and I've no idea what induced me to buy it. I guess Amazon must have liked it at the time (I bought it in 2001). Just checking it again now it has 10 5-stars and 8 1-star ratings, so it seems you either love it or you hate it (or you are good friends with the author... ) Most of the 5 stars were prior to my 2001 trip so that must be it.
I think the worst travel book I ever bought was called "Orgasmic days in the South of France". I am not making up that title, and I've no idea what induced me to buy it. I guess Amazon must have liked it at the time (I bought it in 2001). Just checking it again now it has 10 5-stars and 8 1-star ratings, so it seems you either love it or you hate it (or you are good friends with the author... ) Most of the 5 stars were prior to my 2001 trip so that must be it.
Mar 13th, 2009, 01:12 PM
#18
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 794
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was also highly UNimpressed by the book Paris By Pastry. Not a whit of really helpful info. It's condescending and infantile and a waste of money. If you want to know where to go for the best pastries, check out E-Gullet.
Mar 15th, 2009, 09:02 AM
#19
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I can't let Kerouac, Toupary, StCirq and al. give a false impression of Parisians. I live in Paris, and I hardly ever spend two days without buying a pastry. If I leave my apartment, you can be pretty sure I'll stop at a "boulangerie" at some point (or at several points) and buy something.
Does someone believe that shops fill up their displays every day just for the tourists? They do so for Parisians like me.
Does someone believe that shops fill up their displays every day just for the tourists? They do so for Parisians like me.
