Barbra Austin

I’m just going to get this out in the open before I lose the courage to say it: Pascal Guerreau’s mille-feuille at Tholoniat rivals the one at Jacques Genin.

If you want to feel like a lucky human being, choose a random weekday afternoon and install yourself in the tea salon at Jacques Genin.

If carnation pink was your favorite color of the Crayola 64, then Pâtisserie des Rêves may very well be the pastry shop of your dreams.

One look at La Bergamote’s shiny glazed fruit tarts, tall dark chocolate cakes, glittering pates de fruits, piles of crisp meringue clouds, plump religieuses and golden brioches, and I am transported.

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.