Love is in the Air - Parisian Pastries and Puffs
By Minna A in Food on Feb 11, 2011 6:40PM
Scrambling to find your valentine a sweet treat? Make a quick stop at Beard Papa in Block 37, where they are offering delicious and pretty French pastries and puffs to celebrate the season of love. For this weekend only, Beard Papa’s menu will feature a heart-shaped Paris-Brest, La Frais Paris-Brest and Chocolate Raspberry cream puffs.
The Paris-Brest pastry dates back to 1891, when Parisians created the pastry to commemorate the Paris-Brest-Paris cross country bicycle race, the precursor to the Tour de France. The pastry was shaped to reflect the wheel, and was topped with almonds and filled with butter cream. Since then there have been variations in toppings and fillings ranging from simple whipped cream to hazelnut and other fruit creams. Drooling yet?
Beard Papa, which opened in Block 37 of January last year, has since had us lusting, especially after seeing some puff pastry porn. Beard Papa’s menu focuses on offering “crunchy puff pastries filled with fresh, all natural original custard, topped with whipped cream.” The Chicago store offers a small menu of cream puffs in vanilla and chocolate flavors, with occasional offerings of strawberry, green tea and caramel.
In celebration of Valentine’s weekend, Beard Papa is offering their versions of the Paris-Brest, filled with their delicious signature vanilla bean custard, adorned with whipped cream and topped with fresh strawberries. At a loss for words to express your feelings? These decadently indulgent pastries will do the trick, with pastries twisted in cute heart-shaped bites. A fan of the original shapes and sizes? In addition to their regular flavors, this weekend Beard Papa will offer chocolate raspberry cream puffs. Larger orders of any of their Valentine’s items are available for pre-order.
Beard Papa is located at 108 N State Street in the concourse level.