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!