The Miss Cupcake

Let’s Make Whoopie and The Miss Cupcake have combined forces to create a fabulous assortment of Easter delights.

Easter Offerings

• Cupcake Basket Easter Assortment: Enjoy the delights of Easter flavors with this basket full of 6 fun cupcakes! Easter chicks, bunnies, and bright flowery cupcakes are sure to delight your Easter sweet! Presented in a basket, wrapped in cello, and finished with ribbon.
• Price: $20 each

 

• Easter Cupkets: This individually wrapped cupcake is disguised as a cupcake and adorned with typical Easter basket treats. Surprise your friends and family! Perfect for a small Easter surprise.
• Price: $4 each

Whoopie Pie Flavors

• Peanut Butter Egg: This chocolate fudge whoopie pie has a mini peanut butter egg baked right inside. Next, the shell is dipped in milk chocolate, filled with a creamy peanut butter center, and finished with a white chocolate twirl.
• Almond Joy: A chocolate fudge whoopie filled with coconut filling and dipped in a light dark chocolate coating. Finished with an almond cluster, this whoopie is better than its candy coated counterpart!
• Carrot Cake: This moist carrot cake whoopie, stuffed with nuts and raisins is sure to delight! Filled with cream cheese and finished with a candy carrot garnish.
• Chocolate Thin Mint: A chocolate thin mint cookie is baked into a chocolate fudge shell. Filled with a luscious minty fillling, this whoopie will make you “peace out like a Girl-scout!”
• Lemon Blueberry Streusel: A blueberry streusel shell is the base for a silky lemon scented filling. Lastly, it’s drizzled with a white chocolate swirl.

Details

• Dates: All items will be available Saturday, March 30th through Monday Morning, April 1st
• All items MUST be ordered by Thursday, March 29th
• Delivery is available for a small fee. Free delivery on order $90 and above within 25 mile radius. School and office delivery is available.
• Email orders or questions to themisscupcake@hotmail.com or call directly at (570) 713-5421

Order soon! Before all of the sweetness runs out!

 

Need help in created a memorably creative Valentine’s Day for you friends and family?

Look no further, my dear friends,  you have arrived.

You will find everything you need to

“Get in Good” (and stay there) this Valentine’s Day.

With the choice of black or pink, these novelty underwear are sure to please anyone with a soft-spot for cuteness.

Pink available in the following women’s sizes:

• Small
• Medium
• Large

 Quantities are limited. Underwear will be available Friday, February 8-Friday, February 15th.

Black available in the following women’s sizes:

• Small
• Medium
• Large

Tub’o'Whoopie

Need more than a card for your special Valentine? This beautifully packaged, “tub” of whoopie contains 6 or 12 whoopie pies in a decorative container and covered with cellophane, wrapped with ribbon, and contains a ready to personalize handmade Valentine’s card. That was easy. Available Sunday, February 10th-Thursday, February 14th

• Selection of 6-$20
• Selection of 12-$36
• Add a pair of panties for $11.00

Whoopie Pie Flavors:

• Old School Original: The classic chocolate fudge shell filled with a creamy vanilla frosting.
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup: This chocolate fudge whoopie pie has a mini peanut butter cup baked right inside! Next the shell is dipped in milk chocolate, filled with a creamy peanut butter filling, and finished with a peanut butter twirl.
• Valentine “Zebra Cake”: This age old packaged treat comes to life. A yellow shell is packed with vanilla cream and dunked in a light white chocolate coating and decorated with pink stripes to fit the season!
• Double Chocolate Espresso: It’s FINALLY here! A moist chocolate whoopie is half-dunked in rich chocolate, and blessed with an espresso flavored filling.
• Strawberry Banana Crumble: A most banana whoopie pie is loaded with buttery crumble and filled with a creamy pink cream cheese strawberry filling.

Individual Options:

Individual Valenpies

Give the gift of whoopie! Per your flavor request, these whoopie valentines are decorated in pink and red and contain a handmade personal Valentine’s card, ready for you to personalize. A great way to show your loving this Valentines! Available Sunday, February 10th-Thursday, February 14th

$3.25 each (12 for $35)

Individual Cuptines

With the option of Chocolate or Vanilla Zebra cake, these “edible Valentines” are placed in a clear cup, decorated with cellphone and contain a handmade personal Valentine’s card, ready for you to personalize. A great way to show your loving this Valentines! Available Wednesday, February 13th-Thursday, February 14th.

$3.25 each (12 for $35)

I’m Totally Sold….Where Do I Order!? Email orders or questions to themisscupcake@hotmail.com or call directly at (570) 713-5421

 

 

 

The last several days of Jared and I’s European adventure were spent taking in Paris without any deadlines, which is something that I encourage you to do. We called them “fun-days,” something we knew that we would be a long time without once we returned home.

The first day of our fun-day was spent disrespecting Paris. That is, we didn’t go. We decided to stay in our timeshare and have dinner at a local restaurant.

You can call us 60 year old party poopers.

To start, we walked outside that morning and spotted a flock of geese who were primping themselves at a nearby lake. Due to the excess in left-over day-old pastries that I had acquired from my journeys, Jared and I decided to feed them.

But this nasty old-man goose thought that he was entitled to the loot.

So Jared shot him.

But not really, I just wanted it to sound dramatic.

Jared then realized that he was hungry and with the leftover kitchen essentials that we had accumulated, I told him I would concoct a beaut.

I called it “stale-penis bread over cheesy apple flambe.”

It sucked.

Moving on.

Ever since I was a young girl, I have dreamed of a magical land called Rainforest cafe. It was a restaurant full of wild animals, luscious green jungle, and indoor thunderstorms. I have always been mystified and tantalized by it’s offerings. More importantly, they have the best dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets in the world. Now, my memory may have a few alterations here and there, but this was something that would and will stay in my heart and mind forever. Those chicken nuggets changed my life as a child.

So, considering we had already fed killer geese and eaten stale penis bread, the only natural thing to do was go to this jungle sanctuary and feast on my childhood passions.

And that, my friends, is what we did.

We ate at Rainforest cafe.

In Paris.

And the jungle was as magical as ever.

But my chicken nuggets…..

WERE NOT DINOSAURS! I was furious. I started ripping the elephants tusks off and swinging through the artificial vines.

Then I sat in a corner and sobbed as Jared apologized to the innocent customers who were perfectly fine with their strangely shaped poultry.

I mean, I guess if you look hard enough, it kind of resembles an obese baby dinosaur. Maybe that’s what they were going for?

And then, I tried to get over it and focus on day 2 of fun-day, which would be spent gallivanting the city of love.

We had read impeccable reviews of the crepes at West Country girl, a hipster crepe joint a bit off the beaten path. We took several subways, got lost a few times, finally spotted it, and to our luck…

“No reservations, kids.”

What?

Crap.

Or rather, crepe.

Plan B wasn’t as exciting to me as the thought of goat cheese and caramelized walnut crepes, but I tried to make the best of it. Jared and I’s indecisiveness led us to a quaint little cafe very close the the crepe joint that betrayed us.

I couldn’t tell you the name, but I can tell you that it was absolutely perfect. The kind staff helped us navigate through the French menu and they were quick to accommodate to our needs.

Jared tried the purely French ham and cheese croque monsieur, which he stated was very, “cheesy.”

And I, not knowing truly what I had selected, oredered a phenomenal salad that boasted of fresh greens, corn, green beans, tomatoes, and toasts with goat cheese and honey.

Friends, it was fan-freaking-tastic.

It was one of those items that truly inspires your way of thinking. Taking such a unique variety of ingredients and creating something spectacular out of them is truly an art. It revolutionized my way of thinking about salad.

Our next stop, before you judge our sketchy actions, was recommended to us by a multitude of people. Père Lachaise is a magnificent world-famous cemetery built in 1805. It is the largest cemetery in Paris and the most visited in the entire world. It boasts the grave sights of many famous French individuals, such as the great Oscar Wilde.

The cemetery, although strangely eerie, was quite artistic and photogenic. I fell in love with the doors of the upright graves and subsequently went on a photographical frenzy.

But after a few minutes, we got bored.

And we decided to act like children.

The “hey, cool, I’m in a cemetery” pose.

The, “well honey, it’s time for me to go home” pose.

The entire time we were there, Jared carried around that suitcase. Nothing like a tourist carrying around a suitcase in a world-famous cemetery.

Well folks, that’s just how we roll. (pun!)

We left most of our childish immaturity at the cemetery and enjoyed a purely romantic evening along the Seine.

Parisian nightlife is magical.

Every element is romantic in some way.

Notre Dame in it’s glory at night.

The locks on the bridge overlook the church of Notre Dame.

It radiates class.

We had heard about a particular ice cream company that was a Parisian favorite. The Bethillon company, started in 1954, offers bulk ice cream and “by the scoop” on the Ile Saint-Louis in Paris. The world-famous ice cream is made with only natural ingredients and offers customers a unique taste sensation.

Say no more, I say.

Take me to my ice cream.

We found it.

And we got in line.

And then we realized that we were at the original store.

The one that only sold in bulk.

I mean, I had no problem with this bulk concept, but with lack of a freezer, Jared convinced me that it would not be economical.

Why do I ever listen to him?

So instead, we found a small ice cream shop that offered Bethillon and bought a measly cone.

I ordered the honey nougat.  The flavor was so intense and pure. I appreciated the complexity of the flavor, while being produced so simply.

Jared’s caramel cone was equally as intense and complex. It tasted like cold caramel. It was rich, creamy, and delicious.

And then we were finished.

And it sucked.

As we left the isle, we admired the vintage menu boards and restaurants.

And then, we did it.

We did the most touristy thing that we could do.

We walked down the Avenue Des Champs-Elysees WHILE singing this catchy tune.

And, it was everything I had hoped for it to be.

The December lights radiated.

And Jared and I took a moment to forsake our safety and get a great photo.

Jared wanted to be superman.

And then decided to take his clothes off.

No comment.

And then, I spotted Laduree, the world-famous macaroon/tea house/amazingly cute everything place.

I pushed Jared down and took off, and then I entered very elegantly.

I started drooling in the cuteness of it all.

The little bows, the pastel boxes, and the dainty-ness of it all made me crazy.

Even the champagne was adorable!

When it was finally my turn to order, I just looked at the saleswoman and stared.

“Can I help you, mam?”

Me: Uhh, umm, uhh, ummm

I just wanted it all.

Even the sign saying what flavor the macaroons were was absolutely adorable.

So I just freaked, and bought a few random things.

I just kept snapping pictures, attempting to stay on the down-low.

They are not a fan of picture takers in the French bakery scene.

I’ve been kicked out once or twice

I admired my beautiful purchases and off we went, down the Champs-Elysees.

And Space-jam was also there.

And, to our delight, a mile of Christmas markets lined the street.

Like, on either side.

We saw it all.

Things that I didn’t understand.

Things that I would rather not understand.

And well…other things.

Like for instance, this below.

I turned to Jared and said, “There is an animal in the microwave.”

“I’m not really sure if that’s ok….walk away, quick!!!!”

And giant marshmallows covered in chocolate.

And giant pita bread filled with chicken and french fries.

And Chinese fried rice.

Nothing made sense. We were in an iconic French city, eating American and Chinese food, while shopping at a German-themed Christmas market.

And they were microwaving animals.

It was the best day of my life.

And to top it off, we found this lovely piece of entertainment.

A ferris wheel finds its home at the end of the Champs-Elysees.

How convenient for us.

So we rode it.

And we were absolutely blown away.

I would say it probably would have been a good time for him to propose.

Better luck trying to beat that, lover boy.

All of Paris’ main sights were visible and glowed with a spectacular evening light.

And then, then, then,

We spotted the beauty of the Eiffel tower, all lit up and shining in glory.

And, my friends, don’t believe anyone who says it isn’t magical.

Because it is.

I mean, how CAN’T it be magical, they make lollipops of it.

And necklaces.

Ohh.. CREPES!

AND KEY CHAINS!!

AND HANGING GINGERBREAD MEN!

You see, this is how easily distracted I get.

Our fun-day ended in the most spectacular of ways. We had experienced Paris as a tourist, but took it in as lovers. We spent the day gallivanting and romancing, by eating ice cream, dancing in the streets, and kissing on the ferris wheel.

It was magical.

We came back to the timeshare in shock of the things we had done.

And then woke up and did it all again for the last time.

To start, I introduced Jared to the best eclair in Paris.

We stopped at a bakery that has the supposed “best baguette in Paris” award.

And, OBVIOUSLY we purchased a baguette.

But, we also were tantilized by other culinary delights.

Like nutty sweet breads.

And big wooden structures full of bread.

Which contained this beauty.

And this stick filled with assorted meats and cheeses.

Jared appreciated their crafting of this meat-atarian selection.

And I got a box full of loving, that contained this beauty.

A luscious orange glazed sweet bread.

It was just what the doctor ordered.

And as I was munching away on one of the few green lunches I had consumed in the last four months, I stopped to appreciate the condiments.

Olive oil is to condiments and ketchup is to necessary.

Translation: Instead of ketchup packets in the US, Italy (and Europe) have olive oil in packets.

Like, yes.

I vote Europe!

And then we stumbled upon this gem. (by accident)

Miss Cupcake, how absolutely relevant to my life.

And at that point, we were already miserably full and could not conceive putting anything else into our systems (let alone something sweet).

But, we didn’t care.

We went inside.

And gazed at the cupcake makers, admired the frosting technique, and smiled at the bakery display.

And we bought one and they put it in a precious paper bag.

“Christmas” was the name of this delightful looking cupcake.

We dug right in and were surprised to enjoy the rum-flavored frosting that topped the crumbly, yet slightly moist cranberry base.

And this girl likes rum.

Stuffed.

I don’t care.

Bite.

Now I’m really stuffed. I feel like I want to die.

Three minutes later, another bite.

(This is my life)

And per Jared’s request, we visited the famous Sacre Coher church that overlooks all of Paris.

We looked to each other and said, “yeah…it’s way better at night.”

And we went to the Louve, and Jared posed for the crowd.

(Hoping to attract a few extra Euros).

It didn’t work.

And we saw a bubble maker…make bubbles.

And it was super cool.

And we visited the famous Galleries de Lafeyette.

And we bought foie gras.

And more macaroons.

And Paris, Paris is fabulous. Paris is terrible. Paris is ok. Paris is spectacular. Paris is gloomy. Paris is lovely.

Paris isn’t anything until you make it something.

We chose to make it unforgettable.

Our list of “unforgettable” stops:

• Rainforest Cafe (Paris Disneyland)
• West Country Girl (Best crepes that we never had) 6 Passage Saint-Ambroise Metro: Rue Saint-Maur

• Bistrot 67 (Back-up resturant with amazing salad) 67 Rue Saint-Maur Metro: Rue Saint-Maur
• Pere Lachaise (Famous cemetary)  16 Rue du Repos Metro: Pere Lachaise
• Berthillon Ice Cream (Well…ice cream)  31 Rue Saint-Louis en l’Île Metro: Ponte Marie
• Laduree (Macaroons and cuteness) Metro: Many locations, see website.
• Ferris Wheel Metro: Concorde
• La Greneier a Pain (Best baguette in Paris award) 38 rue Abbesses Metro: Abbesses
• Miss Cupcake (A cupcake shop with my name! How cute!) 22, rue de la Vieuville Metro: Abbesses
• Galleries de Lafeyette (Famous department store) 40 Boulevard Haussmann Metro :Chaussee d’Antin-La Fayette
• Fachon (Foie Gras and Macaroons-Fancy food, great gifts) 30 Place de la Madeleine Paris Metro:Madeleine

Day 2 of hopping around Paris in search of sweet had come quicker than I had been able to recover from Day 1.

But, whatever. I can convince myself otherwise.

And that, my friends, is exactly what I did.

Our first stop was Jean Paul Hevin, a famous Parisian chocolatier.

The shop was modern, elegant, and boasted of nothing less than chocolate shoes.

Colleen slapped me before she let me purchase that shoe for 58 Euros.

Resisting was far from easy.

We selected several chocolate truffles and were pleasantly surprised by the flavor sensations. A few high notes were in the honey, cinnamon, and fig truffles.

Because of it’s stand out beauty, we purchased the chocolate mousse bûche de Noël.

It was delectable, a chocolate lover’s dream.

Out next stop was Angelina, a Parisian landmark known for it’s rich hot chocolate.

The store had class.

Mad class.

And then I saw it.

The hot chocolate was bottled up..and it was solid.

And when hot chocolate is solid at room temperature, it means its going to be ridiculously thick when heated.

And Angelina, let me just tell you, your hot chocolate was the best I’ve tasted in Europe.

Or for that matter, like, ever.

And so naturally, I made the intelligent decision to bring some home, adding yet an another kilo to my already 40 kilogram overweight luggage.

Next up, Pierre Herme’s famous macaroons.

The flavor choices were quite unexpected, and included flavors such as: Chocolate Foie Gras and Foie Gras.

No comment.

As for me, I chose the rose and pear macaroon.

And after all of my years of macaroon ignorance, I have tasted the truth. The crunchy shell broke through to a  soft and decadent cream filling.

Colleen’s caramel macaroon was far from artificial. With such an intense flavor profile, this macaroon radiated in my memory for hours.

To take a break from the sugar-coma, we decided to stroll down Rue Montorgueil, a lively street with many gourmet food shops, small restaurants, and patisseries.

We stepped foot into a cheese shop and lost our minds.

Cheese after cheese. Row after row.

It was like heaven, a heaven that binds you up.

I was blessed with an energetic employee who was more than willing to share her recommendations to a tourist desiring to take cheese home to America (that would be me).

I sampled multiple cheese and couldn’t help but smiling.

My favorite was the French Morbier, a creamy cheese with an aged blue swirl through the center.

I purchased and had vacuum-packed about 5 different French cheeses to enjoy with my family.

An since we had been running around Paris burning calories all morning, we decided to nourish ourselves with love.

Creperie Josselin is a traditional creperie highlighted in blogs, travel guides, and by locals.

 

Josselin uses buckwheat flour to produce thin galletas that have a distinct crisp. (technically NOT crepes).

The inside of the restaurant was absoltuely packed.

The decorations have almost a medieval feel.

But to be quite honest, I didn’t really care what the place looked like, I was just ready to try a rel French crepe.

And they aren’t fooling by calling themselves a creperie. The menu consists of crepes and ONLY crepes. I have such a respect for restaurants who make a good thing perfect and don’t try to stray from it.

Colleen ordered the vanilla ice cream and sauteed apple dessert crepe.

Like O.M.G

No words.

Other than it being the BEST crepe I have ever had, it was also one of the most unique treats I have ever consumed. The ice cream had melted, but was incorporated inside of the crepe, which was laced with apples. The combination of the “milkshake” consistency of the cream, the fruit, and the softness of the crepe, it was like taking happy pills, really really big ones.

And after I had been lost in my own little world enjoying Colleen’s crepe,

mine had come.

The Vegetarian: A crispy galleta filled with egg, cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms, and onion.

Like seriously?

Was this real?

“In my own little corner in my own little world I can be whatever I want to be.”

I was having a moment, and if anyone would have got in the way, I might have bitten them.

 I know it doesn’t sound polite, but sometimes politeness is overrated.

Especially when we are dealing with French crepes.

And it was over.

 And we were sad.

Goodbye street full of creperies.

Hello Le Cordon Bleu.

Colleen and I, due to her phenomenal scheduling skills, had scheduled a tour with Le Cordon Bleu (The infamous French culinary school that has taught kitchen prodigies such as Julia Child). We were taken through the entire building and were able to watch pastry students cutting sheet cakes and designing sugar sculptures. We saw the culinary students chopping and sauteing. And we saw Le Cordon Bleu in it’s entirety, from locker room to lecture hall.

And then I took a flyer and started seriously considering filling our the application.

“Slap me, Colleen,” I said.

“This could be bad.”

After the school, we made our way to Meert, the off-the-beaten-track pastry shop known for it’s vanilla bean waffles.

I mean, they have waffles on their celing.

The waffles are kind of a big deal here.

However, these waffles are like no other waffles you have ever taken part of. They are thin, almost wafer like, filled with a thick vanilla bean paste.

The waffles taste most similarly to  melted vanilla bean ice cream in a chewy sugar cone.

And hearing Colleen’s excitement about this well-known delicacies, I ripped open the bag and took a big bite.

And, while I wasn’t completely enamored by the product (as Colleen most definitely it), I greatly appreciated it for what it was and was completely intrigued by it’s uniqueness.

As evening dawned, we thought a celebratory baguette was in order.

Eric Kayser became the provider of our evening gift.

And Eric, your baguettes are bagging, probably my favorite in Paris.

And lo and behold, my baguette top did not stay in tact for long.

As our day winded down a bit, we made sure to stop at Blue Sucre, where the supposed BEST madeline of Paris was located.

So naturally, we ordered apple pie…err…madelines.

Yes. I’m a believer.

I was so encouraged by the madeline’s taste and texture, that I bought a madeline pan.

Because I could.

Our last bakery stop of the day was an American inspired French cupcake bakery, Berko.

The shop had a vibe of home, which immediately gave me a distinct feeling of peace and comfort.

We ordered the Biscoff cookie cupcake and carrot cake cupcake.

Both were very nice.

The store is known for it’s delectable cheesecake, which unfortunately, we did not partake in.

We moseyed around a beautiful district in Paris (Called St. Michel and the Odeon) and located a small tourist trap French fonduee restaurant. We took the chance and were greeted by a host of Frenchmen.

The meal for the most part of forgetable, but the company was far from it.

And what may have been the best thing I have eaten in Paris didn’t come from rra famoud Parisian chocolate or pastry shop.

It cam from  a tourist trap, a French tourist trap.

The unforgetable dish was a light salad in house dressing next to a fried and breaded goat cheese served with honey. The cheese was delicate and flavorful and the crust was crunchy and was the perfect complimenting note to the dish.

A complete list of the shop stops at on Day 2 of Parisian Pastry Hop (Below)

• Jean Paul Hevin (Chocolates, Buche de Noel)
• Angelina (Hot Chocolate)
• Pierre Herme (Macaroons)
• Fromager Meilleur Ouvrier de France (French Cheese)
• Creperie Josselin (Ridiculously Fabulous Traditional Crepes)
• Meert (Vanilla Bean Waffles)
• Eric Kayser (Best Baguette)
• Blue Sucre (Madelines)
• Berko (Cupcakes)
• Chalet Gregory (Tourist Trap with the Best thing I Ate in Paris)

Ciao for now!

Understanding that I was in the land of pastry and love, Colleen and I figured that rather than exploring the tourist-dense sights (which she had already seen), we would go on a journey, a two day journey through the streets of Paris.

This journey would lead us to a land of paradise. A land of sweet, sweet, sugar-coma induced paradise.

But first, we were attacked by a small herd of swans.

They are NOT friendly. Despite was gracefully blessed animals they appear to be, they are armed with angry stares and barks.

Like, I’m not even lying, that swan barked and hissed at me. In fact, I thought it was a dragon. And then, when I started to notice the fire that was developing from it’s hissing undertone, I ran.

I ran fast.

I can hardly look at that picture anymore. The memories are so dark.

I tried to think of happy thoughts as I moved briskly away from the treacherous animals.

Once we arrived to the train station, we purchased Navi-go cards which I highly recommend to anyone who is staying in Paris for 3 days to a week. The card, which you can read about here, costs 33.40 Euros and gives you access to Zones 1-5 of Paris, covering service to the airports as well. The card itself costs an extra 5 Euros and the pictures (booths are available next to the ticket office) also costs 5 Euro. But, for a total of 43.40 Euro, its an excellent deal, there is no worry of misplacing a small 3 day ticket, and it provides access to Paris in it’s entirety.

Plus, you can look like a diva in your Navigo picture.

And that, my friends, was worth the 43.40E

When we arrived on the train, Colleen took charge, mapping out each stop for the day, what we would purchase there, and what was recommended to us by top websites.

Our first stop was Legacy chocolate, a pastry maker that produces things that are, let’s just say, a little different.

As you walk up, you are met with a festive display of ornaments, trees, and…well…these (below),

 Baguette “magique,” which according to Google translator, translates into Magic Baguette.

Uhmm, ok. So that’s what they are calling them these days.

Legacy Chocolate is a “gay bakery,” which is proud of male genitals and what they mean for the world.

If you are looking for multicolored genitalia chocolate favors or a male-inspired cake topper for your wedding, this is the place for you.

But, as for me, I really wanted to sink my teeth into one of those, be it right, wrong, or indifferent.

And so Colleen and I bought one.

Yes, we bought a penis shaped chocolate chip bread.

And we ate it.

And it was fun.

You can judge me if you want.

In addition to our scandalous purchase, we consumed a delicious caramelized onion bagel stick from Legacy. We found ourselves snacking on it all day, as it had an addicting chewy texture and subtle onion flavor.

Our next stop was Pain De Sucre. And we didn’t stop here because it was on our list. We stopped because we are addicted to carbs, and they offered quite a few tasty looking ones.

They also offered escargot pastries, which did not make the cut into my stomach.

We selected the Pain roule lardons, filled with ham, greens, and shredded cheese.

It had a nice chewy texture which housed the delightful innards.

Pralus was our next stop.

As we swiftly moved by the shop, we were stopped dead in our tracks. “What was the plump pink loaf in the window?” we asked ourselves. So, we did the only natural thing, and bought it.

We came to find out that this delightful “loaf” was a sweet bread filled with rose water pink pralines, a popular snack in Paris.

And friends, this was inexplicably delectable. The crunchy pralines and the the subtle rosewater flavor came through in this airy yet dense cake like bread.

It was fan freaking tastic, like nothing I’ve ever tasted.

I wrapped it up tightly, placed it carefully in my bag, and prayed that Colleen would forget that I had it.

Our next mission was Stohrer, the famous Parisian patisserie known for its luscious eclairs.

I’m really not that big of an eclair fan, but because of my equal opportunity stance on desserts, I decided to go along with it and give it a chance.

And so i did.

And now I’m changed forever.

The eclair dough boasted of an uncharacteristically flavorful crust which was plumped full of a rich chocolate pastry cream. And the coffee one? Well, that was blow your mind good.

Like eclairs or want to like them?

Go to Stohrer.

Or order one of these, a giant brioche casually stuffed with a hotdog.

Oh these French people.

I partook in an excellent arugula salad with roasted red peppers and Parmesan cheese. It was light, refreshing, and a  lovely way to prepare myself for several hours of consistent sugar meltdown.

But hey, at least I wasn’t in denial.

That’s the first step to healing.

We maneuvered on until we were stopped by Eric Kayser.

This multi-outlet business is known for it’s delicious bread.

But we wanted a cookie.

So we bought a cookie and ate it.

And it was a super awesome cookie.

After our cookie, we took a stroll into the Galleries Lafeyette Gourmet store. The Galleries are a Parisian landmark that boasts of a huge variety of department store essentials. A gourmet market was added to please the foodies!

The moment you step off the escalator, you are hit with a rush of adrenaline. There is no proper way to describe  this beautiful concentration of French food in one place. Pastry shops have set up shop, cheese producers are sampling their goods, and walls are lined with freshly baked bread.

Yes. I will take an apartment in aisle 5.

Right next to the bread please.

The products are artisan and unique. Christmas themed cheese, vintage labeled chocolate, oh my!

There was one stall that was offering loose leave tea by the scoop. The aroma was unforgettable.

To go with the tea, brightly colored and deliciously paired sugars were offered for sale.

We made our first stop at Dalloyau, a pastry shop known for inventing the opera cake.

So what did we buy, you might ask?

Opera cake.

Yes.

It’s like eating your daily cup of coffee.

Which personally, I would WAY rather do.

The moist coffee soaked layers were topped with buttercream and chocolate ganache. The combination of the textures and flavors made this opera cake just about perfect.

We moved on (Still in Galleries Lafeyette Gourmet) to AOKI, the Japanese inspired French bakery that our head chef in Italy mentioned to us before we left.

They are known for their creative fusion of Asian and French flavors, which creates a taste-bud wonderland.

We selected the Bamboo cake slice.

Each layer was perfectly formed and distinctive in the whole bite. The bamboo flavor was fresh mixed with forest,  yet strangely complimented the chocolate sensation. It was an ironic hit.

Like, I would eat it again. Plus, it was absolutely beautiful.

We left the Galleries and were on a mission to find the store that I had been dreaming of visiting, E. Dehillerin. This kitchen supply store has been around since 1820 and offers an assortment of beautiful cooking supplies and shiny copper pots for professional and hobby chefs alike.

I lost my mind.

Whisks, tart molds, baking pans, pots, knifes, AHHHHHH!!

I pushed through the giant mob of people as I sprinted through the store singing songs of victory and alerting every single soul of my delight.

And because I had been convinced that I was purchasing a copper pot, I knew that I would have to do some serious preparation. One part of this preparation, involved weighting the pot (on a scale that was also for sale). The scale lied. My pot was heavy and their was no way that I was fitting it in my suitcase.

But, I bought it anyway. Because I wanted it.

Along with the pot, I bought several French pastry tools that I had been longing for.

And 29 hours later, Coleen and I left the store and made way to La Grande Epicerie.

This gourmet food store is best described as a European Wegman’s on crack, injected with heroine, and dosed up with speed. And after that specific combination of dangerous drugged is combined, then you have La Grande Epicerie.

Again, I danced for joy, skipping around the displays in utter amazement.

They made even the fruit cake look beautiful.

And they baked a 50 lb. Panettone.

I don’t care who you are, that is cool.

There was a beautiful (almost market-like) assortment of fruits and vegetables.

And an unfathomable amount of delicious looking “take-out” foods.

Colleen forcibly pulled me out of the store on route to our next stop, the supposed “best baguette in Paris” award winner, Des gateaux & du Pain.

We bought just shy of 6 loaves of bread here in preparation for our carb inspired dinner.

And on the way home, Colleen performed her usual cup-bearing routine.

Thank you Colleen, think of the disease you may have prevented me from.

And it just so happens, that every time I sit in the subway with a baguette hanging out of the bag, it doesn’t hang out of the bag for long.

If you know what I mean.

Once we arrived back home to the timeshare that my parents so kindly provided to use, we enjoyed a degustation of carbohydrates. You never know when we may need to run a marathon on the spot.

We wanted to be ready.

And Colleen fixed her plate.

I don’t see a problem with this, should I be concerned of my ignorance?

And Susan, our dear friend who had been visiting museums while we were commuting gluttony rummaged through our excess to find one thing in particular.

We told her not to worry and just eat a bit of that magic baguette.

And after that, everything would be a little better in the world.

A complete list of Stops for Pastry Day:

• Attack of the Swans, Marriott Village Timeshare (They had planned on consuming us)
• Legacy Chocolate (Penis Bread, Caramelized Onion Bagel Stick)
• Pan De Sucre (Pain Roule Lardons)
• Pralus (Rose water Praline Loaf)
• Stohrer (Best eclairs in Paris, Salad)
• Eric Kayser (Cookie)
• Galleries de Lafeyette Gourmet
  • Dalloyau (Opera Cake)
  • AOKI (Bamboo Layered Pastry)
• E Dehillerin (Copper Pot, Kitchen Supplies)
• La Grande Epicerie (Gourmet grocery store, prepared foods)
• Des Gateaux de Pain (Baguettes, Bread)