Bonjour, Pastries! I Eat You Now!

Nestled in picturesque downtown Winter Park is an outstanding French bakery called Croissant Gourmet. (I promise I had decided to use "picturesque before visiting their site. Obviously this just means it's especially true that there's a lot of picturesque going down in downtown.) This authentic bakery offers a wide selection of pastries as well as other breakfast and lunch items you will love.

These pictures were taken several months ago early in the day when more items were available.

The thing is, cupcakes, they're not from France. By now you're thinking, but this is "The Cupcake Blog. Where's all the cupcakes?" And to that I say, rules were meant to be broken. So on my third wonderful trip to this pastry heaven I decided to partake in the Almond Pear Tart, and my accomplice in some chocolate mousse dream that I forgot the name of. Here they are!

Although not my favorite of the items I've tasted here, this tart was quite good. The almond crust was delicious, and the pears were sweet. We did go late in the day, around 5pm, so I am sure the taste was much fresher earlier since these are baked each morning. The chocolate mousse cake was very light and not too sweet. Simple yet yummy.

The prices here will run you higher than your average cupcake. I got a small cup of milk with my tart, and it cost me around $5. It is, however worth it to enjoy a little taste of authentic French baking. Also, if you're trying to save money and calories, try the macaroons, cream puffs, or mini eclairs. These bite-size desserts are perfect if you just want something modest  Another bonus is that the service here is always excellent. The staff have always been smiling and friendly no matter what time of day it is when I arrive. 

My top recommendation for Croissant Gourmet is the Apple Normandy pictured below. It is creamy, appley, bliss inside a soft crust.

So to recap, here's my overall ratings:

Taste: 5 stars Absolutely delicious!
Ambiance: Small, yet charming. French decor.
Price: A little on the high side, but totally worth it for the quantity and quality you get.
Service: Excellent


Croissant Gourmet, c'est parfait!

I'm Comin' For Ya, Cupcakes!

Sugary sweet, moist and delicious, daring and beautiful; just what makes the best cupcake? In my humble opinion, it should probably start with some truly impressive buttercream. Where does one go to enjoy this Holy Grail of baked delights? There are many, many bakeries in Orlando and the surrounding area. One can't possibly try them all...or can they?

Aided by my trusty companion, I have embarked on a mission to find the best  cupcake in town. We began this glorious, fattening journey last month at  Blue Bird Bake Shop on Corrine Drive in Orlando. It wasn't until today on our second outing that I decided this was an adventure worth blogging about. More will be revealed about Blue Bird in a later post when I can obtain some fabulous photos to taunt your taste buds. For now, let's just get the run-down on what you can expect from this blog in general.

Each week (or two) I'll be bringing you with me on a trip to a new bakery. You'll get to see all the lovely sights of each, plus you'll get a description of the treats enjoyed along with prices and my personal overall experience. It will be enough to have you headed out the door, car keys in hand swearing you'll start that diet tomorrow. 

So come along with me, readers! Let's eat some cupcakes!