I may someday take a picture of a chausson aux pommes from Poilane like the one I just finished, but I have yet to make it three steps out the door of this venerable bakery without taking the first bite of this buttery, flaky treat. And after the first bite it’s all over.
In a city full of clothes too expensive to wear and tarts too beautiful to eat, the goods at Poilane are refreshingly rustic. The shelves are a symphony of browns, from the pale “mie” of the famous Pain Poilane, to the golden butter cookies, to the deep, shiny, almost orange crust of a petite brioche.
The chausson is one of the few pastry items Poilane produces. It’s something I would (and do) have for breakfast or a snack, but probably not for dessert. Maybe, though, heated up, with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream… yes, that would definitely work.
Poilane, 8 Rue de Cherche Midi, Paris 75006. Visit their website for more information and a strange mini-sudoku featuring bread products instead of numbers.