Eclairs with flair

AN INSTITUTION among patisseries in the French capital since 1886, celebrated Parisian pastry shop Fauchon will join the worldwide celebration of Eclair Week next weekend with an “Eclair Weekend” running from Friday through Sunday at its two outlets in Bangkok – Siam Paragon and the EmQuartier. 

A combination of audacity, flavours and aesthetic appeal, Fauchon’s eclairs in 11 dazzling flavours are categorised in three collections – classic flavours, classic cakes from France and special flavours in Thailand only. 

The little shop that grocer Auguste Fauchon opened a century and a quarter ago has found “un bon ami” in the firm Tea The Cha (Thailand), its first Thai franchisee, and together they've set up a combined pastry shop, tea room, restaurant and grocery store under one roof. Like the original shop in La Madeleine area of Paris, the Bangkok outlets are decorated in black, white, silver and magenta and offer a range of eclairs, melt-in-the-mouth cakes and sweet macaroons alongside gourmet merchandise flown in from France.

“Every year, it’s customary for Fauchon in Paris to organise an Eclair Week to run parallel with Paris Fashion Week, which takes place this month. New flavours will be introduced while the classical and signature eclairs will also be highlighted. Fauchon outlets in various countries also join this celebration to showcase artistic designs combined with delightful tastes,” says Bruno Le Francois, executive chef of Tea The Cha.

Specially created for this celebration and sold in Thailand only during the three-day event are two new flavours called Ayudhaya and Sukhothai. Inspired by the glory of Thai arts in the Ayutthaya kingdom, the eclair is made of sweet choux pastry topped with a coconut, lemon grass and combava cream, covered with white chocolate glazing and decorated with a gold leaf and coconut design. Previously sold from December 4 to 7 last year to celebrate Father’s Day, the Sukhothai is making a popular return. Inspired by the Sukhothai Kingdom, the eclair features local banana and mango mixed with chocolate caramel ganache. The choux pastry is also topped with yellow chocolate glaze and decorated with gold powder and gold leaf.

French classic cakes have also been interpreted into eclair flavours. For the first time in Thailand, Opera, the Baba Au Rhum and Religieuse will be on sale here – though only for these three days. Baba Au Rhum blends Madagascar bourbon vanilla cream with citrus peel in baba pastry soaked in vanilla syrup and dark rum while Opera features Columbian coffee and chocolate as well as sweet almond and is dressed with dark chocolate cookies. Chocolate lovers will be delighted with the Religieuse thanks to its rich chocolate and cocoa filling and Madagascar bourbon vanilla and dark chocolate glaze. Another best-selling flavour in this category is creamy and crunchy Paris Brest with praline mousseline cream, almond and hazelnut praline filling, and slivers of roasted hazelnuts.

Among the classic flavours are creamy Caramel with salted butter caramel cream and glaze decorated with silvers of caramel, and Strawberry eclair filled with strawberry cream and fresh strawberry, glazed with red chocolate and decorated with silver powder. 

Prices range from Bt155 to Bt185 apiece.

 

 

SWEET TREATS

>>Eclair Week runs from September 11 to 13. 

>>Fauchon outlets are located on the ground floor of Siam Paragon and the ground floor of the Helix Building of EmQuariter. 

>>They are open daily, from 10 to 10. 

>>Call (02) 003 6033 (EmQuartier), (02) 610 7802 (Siam Paragon) or visit www.Fauchon.co.th.