Le Petit Duc invited us over to their sparkling new boutique on rue de Rapp in the 7th to taste test their delightful products.
Le Petit Duc has a two word philosophy : Pationelle & Tradisserie
Which are actually two words mixed and matched together : Patisserie and Traditionelle. They have taken the two concepts and sliced them together to create their own definition, one that treats tradition with passion and a lot more. Continue reading
So my dear friend Quinn (who has just very recently left Paris for the Land Down Under to follow her ♥ -but she will be back someday, let’s say in like 2-3 years…) has been going to a café in the 9th for well over a year. And she has been going, religiously. I think she’s still the Mayor on Foursquare even though she is no longer in Paris! She kept telling me to go there, and me never “finding the time” to hike over there put it off and off. And then Quinn left… 
Her café of choice? : Kooka Boora.
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So, apparently I am one of the few who “knows about” this discovery : chocolate mousse doesn’t need dairy -at all-. I came to the conclusion that most people don’t know this truth judging from all the recipes I see that call for all sorts of creams, and butters and crazy dairy requirements, and the fact that I have never met a restaurant that does it sans butter or cream. Even the dairy free recipes out there on the internet all call for the complicated substitutes that I just don’t want to deal with. Chocolate mousse is really quite a simple recipe. 3 basic ingredients are all it takes! 
THREE! I wish more restaurants would get the concept since it would be nice to have something other than fresh fruit once in a while for dessert when I go out. But then I live in France, dairy land of the world. *sigh* … I suppose that the silver lining is that I have retained my figure.
When I want dessert, I have to make it myself. And usually I have to come up with all sorts of resourceful and inventive solutions to my creations to make them look, taste and feel like the “real” thing.
Luckily for me this is one of the simplest desserts out there!
My boss left a little magazine cutout with some recipes she found for me (she knows that I eat dairy free and my Chéri eats sans gluten). I was so touched that I was inspired to make one particular recipe to share with my colleagues.
Rochers Coco, has go to be the easiest recipe for the biggest taste. Bite sized coconut/vanilla sublime goodness… and my whole house smelled incredible while making them!
I love hot chocolate. Sadly I am unable to go out and have it in Paris, as it is always, ALWAYS made with milk. And although lactose intolerance has finally reached the shelves of the local super markets, it has not and probably will never reach the café tables and counter of the many charming Salons de thé. And that is ok, since I have a living room decorated like a vintage café, and I can make my own chocolat chaud at home! Continue reading
This is the first year in 6 years that I have had Thanksgiving off and can spend it with my husband and in-laws without feeling rushed or having to celebrate a few days later on Sunday. This year I get to take my time in the kitchen with my mother in law, we get to cook together and chat, and share recipes, and I will write them all down in a little notebook and cherish them so I can pass them on one day (because her stuffing recipe is quite literally the best thing you could ever ever eat…). This will be a Thanksgiving to remember!
My dairy-free pumpkin pie
Ok so in my never-ending search for fun ideas for garnishing the wedding bon-bon bar, I discovered this super easy, très pas cher (very inexpensive) idea at a block party I went to recently. I find this to be the perfect solution to my need for candy on a stick. I have been searching for those swirl lollipops that are so popular these days, but I am not too keen on spending a small fortune on something that I am not even sure the mostly French guests will actually eat! But Haribo…They seem to love it!
I have found the answer to my dairy intolerance prayers! It’s called Kosher. And even if I am not all that concerned with religion and such, I am ever so glad that the jewish religion has a separation of dairy in their diet. Because it is the reason why I can eat things like this :
and this :
And this :
And THAT my friends is something I never thought I would ever be able to eat ever again…strawberry cream cake… I can hardly believe it!
Where can you access these incredible edible delights?!? At the most charming bakery Lune de Miel a brand new shop that just opened in December 2011, at the “door” of Paris, in Charenton-Le-Pont, accessible on metro line 8, station Liberté.
They cater to people who are holding events and need a pièce montée, or delicate desserts and savory bites for a party, or snacks for the kids after school, or just for a little “moment gourmand”. Kosher and oriental delights are waiting to be tasted and appreciated.
And your lactose free pastry dreams are just a short metro ride away. Macarons, croissants, pastries, pizzas and petit fours salés, tartelettes, pies, french cookies and oriental cookies, cakes and cream cakes…oh and did I say CREAM CAKES!?! Sink your teeth into pain-free deliciousnes.
You are welcome.
Lune De Miel
