Sugar and spice and all things nice

I have a very sweet tooth and love most desserts (the list is endless) the same applies to food, but that I will leave for another day.  I love finding new and fabulous restaurants and if I’m travelling, I try to find where the best restaurants and pastry shops one can go to for fantastic food or dessert.  All waiters must think I’m mad, as I always ask for the dessert menu before choosing my meal as I have to plan what I will eat if there is a fantastic dessert on the menu.  Hey, I have my priorities.

The good thing is that I have quite a few friends who share my passion and one friend in particular is my ‘ultimate dining buddy’.  Our friendship grew over many lunches and dinners out, trying out fabulous restaurants and treats (not to forget our cocktail sessions).   She is a very passionate baker and has an amazing knowledge when it comes to these sugary delights (and all other things come to think of it).  Check out her amazing blog: The Caked Crusader

The other day we met up in town for lunch and a catch up and for our dessert, we decided to go to Ladurée at Covent Garden.  For those who have never heard of Ladurée, this is a luxury cakes and pastries brand based in Paris, France, its history dating back to 1862.  The first picture in my blog today is of their pastry counter, is there anything more wonderful then that?  Ladurée is known as the inventor of the double-decker macaron.  They produce  fifteen thousand of these which are sold every day. They are still one of the best known makers of macarons in the world.  

Look at this box of the little gems, such beautiful colours, look at the gloss on the outside, like a treasure trove of sugary delights.  

My firm favourites at the moment are pistachio

Coconut

Vanilla

Madagascar chocolate

Caramel

The list is endless.  But not only do they produce macarons, but also the most amazing pastries.  We had a ‘pistachio religieuse’ which was our afternoon treat (one each of course, we don’t share).   Look at this little beauty. 

A bit of background, the ‘religieuse’ was created in the mid-19th century, it comprises of two round choux pastry cases – one large at the bottom and one smaller one on top – with a delicate buttercream or Chantilly cream topping reminiscent of a nun’s wimple - hence the name.

Look at the inside, every mouthful was a piece of heaven

  

Is there anything better in life then this?

I also wanted to show you my lovely present from Mrs. CC and her hubby Mr. CC who also dabble in making their own liqueurs, check out their potables blog.  

Last year one of the liqueurs they produced was a crab apple one and I fell in love with it.  The aroma of this liqueur is amazing and the taste is just divine.  Because they used crab apples, it has this tart but also sweet taste and I have become hooked on it.  So much so, that they kindly gave me their entire crab apple production of last year and this year when they went foraging, they made me another stash for this winter.  How amazing are my friends.  Here is a picture of the 3 new bottles beside my half a bottle of last year's production, look how it has aged - beautiful.  Its like this golden elixir.  I know what is going to keep me warm this winter (unfortunately not Richard Armitage).