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February 2009
Divine Dessert
A birthday is a special day and nothing says “you’re special” more than a beautiful cake, from one of my favorite haunts in Paris on Rue Royal…Laduree, an upscale bakery and tea room. I ordered the cake a few days before and went to pick up the cake on a Tuesday afternoon.
Knowing my guests liked fruit flavors I opted for the raspberry and rose petal dacquoise filled with a vanilla bean diplomat cream, dotted with plump, tart raspberries and finished with edible gold leaf and organic edible ruby red rose petals.
As I double wrapped my gray wool scarf around my neck and snuggled into my black wool coat, I squinted my eyes as I walked into the wintry wind towards Rue Royal. I anticipated the warm ambiance of the tea room with its ancient, hand-painted cherub murals. As I turned the corner from Rue Saint Honore onto Rue Royal, I smelled the vivid aroma of strong espresso and pictured the buttery brioche waiting proudly to be chosen from the gaudy French pastry case. I was greeted by the passionate window display of whimsical macaroon cookies that span the color spectrum of eye shadows and lipsticks from the Chanel counter at Printemps…only in Paris.
My cheeks were warmed upon entering, as I kindly talked my way into the line at the counter to pick up my order. As soon as I spoke, the young lady behind the counter recognizing my precious East Texas accent said, “Oh, you’re hear to pick up the raspberry and rose dacquoise!”
“Yes, I am,” I said expectantly. She brought the beautiful pastel box to me and presented the cake. The dacquoise was absolute perfection, it solicited a response in my soul that required no words.
Later that evening, after my guests and I enjoyed a lovely dinner in my apartment, I surprised them with the beautiful birthday cake. As we each took a coveted bite, silence broke over the room. The silence was as golden as the edible gold leaf on the cake.
I know why Laduree chose cherubs in the hand-painted murals on their beautiful walls in the parlors of the tea room. Every time I entered the doors of Laduree, the red velvet curtain in my mind was pulled to reveal a brief heavenly encounter on Earth. That special birthday evening will never be repeated nor forgotten, it was a divine encounter forever etched into the photographs of my mind.
