paris: Rendez-vous at Cafe Pouchkine

Rendez-vous at Cafe Pouchkine

Cafe Pouchkine, watercolor, 9" x 11"

I had a teatime rendez-vous with PastryParis author, Susan Hochbaum near Metro Franklin D. Roosevelt. *NEVER agree to meet anyone near this metro. In fact avoid it at all costs. It's totally confusing + it was pouring cats and dogs out to boot. Where was Leslie Caron to lead me out the right exit? I turned around and went home :(

Thanks to email we re-connected later at Cafe Pouchkine - Printemps..

That's Susan about to take her seat at the counter. Go early before it gets crowded. Word is out. Or else the cafe is being bombarded by PBers :)

I hit it lucky - la vendeuse is completely involved packing up pastries and misses me taking pastry shots. On the left a Russian witty version of the quelle ordinaire French choquette (Chouquette Botchka) - those little sugared puffs you buy a bag of for 1-2 euros.

What is a 'Medovick'? Does it matter?

Everything at Cafe Pouchkine is pretty amazing and worth a try...

I decide on the rosey-raspberry jelled concoction on the left...

Extremement jolie!

Clever Pouchkine lets you eat on top of rows of macarons, chocolate truffles and nougat so you never lose focus on their pastries...

Susan asks if this is a favorite of mine? Not at all. I'm ready to experiment these days after eating at least 20 tarte au citron meringuees...

Third time Susan is indulging in this Pouchkine fantasie...

Susan's description:

'I don't know what it's called but it was a rolled lemon poppy cake with salted butter caramel. The meringues around the side melted like snowflakes in my mouth.'