PETITE FRENCH CAKES
The Pastry with a Past
It was the famed French writer Marcel Proust who gave the
Madeleine its literary déjà-vu fame in Remembrance of
Things Past, in which he referred to them as the ". . . little
shell of cake, so generously sensual beneath the piety of
its stern pleating . . ."
Unlike Proust's memory, the actual origins of the
Madeleine are somewhat unclear. The most widely
accepted version is that the name was given by King Louis
XV to honor his father-in-law's cook, Madeleine Palmier,
when he first tasted them at the Chateau Commercy in
Lorraine in 1755. His wife, Marie, then introduced them to
the court, and they soon became all the rage at Versailles.
Even today, the little cakes remain in vogue and are still
linked to the town of Commercy, where a large number of
commercial Madeleines are produced. And at Fauchon,
the ultimate gourmet food emporium on the Place de la
Madeleine in Paris, you will find a newly opened Madeleine
Bar in the Boulangerie, offering both sweet and savory
versions of these delicate little cakes.
The Pastry with a Past
It was the famed French writer Marcel Proust who gave the
Madeleine its literary déjà-vu fame in Remembrance of
Things Past, in which he referred to them as the ". . . little
shell of cake, so generously sensual beneath the piety of
its stern pleating . . ."
Unlike Proust's memory, the actual origins of the
Madeleine are somewhat unclear. The most widely
accepted version is that the name was given by King Louis
XV to honor his father-in-law's cook, Madeleine Palmier,
when he first tasted them at the Chateau Commercy in
Lorraine in 1755. His wife, Marie, then introduced them to
the court, and they soon became all the rage at Versailles.
Even today, the little cakes remain in vogue and are still
linked to the town of Commercy, where a large number of
commercial Madeleines are produced. And at Fauchon,
the ultimate gourmet food emporium on the Place de la
Madeleine in Paris, you will find a newly opened Madeleine
Bar in the Boulangerie, offering both sweet and savory
versions of these delicate little cakes.
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| LINKS |
| InStyle Mention Master of the Madeleine The Way the Cookie Crumbles Best Mads in New York City Best Mads in Chicago Le Cordon Bleu Flop |
These Madeleines, generally known as the
authentic ones, are usually displayed shell
side down to show off their distinctive humps
and bear little resemblance to the American
Madeleine to which so many have become
familiar. Until now. . .
authentic ones, are usually displayed shell
side down to show off their distinctive humps
and bear little resemblance to the American
Madeleine to which so many have become
familiar. Until now. . .
| Lori's Madeleines, Meringues & More! |
865 Jaquelyn St.
Ashland, OR 97520
ph. 541.531.7007
info@lorismadeleines.com
Ashland, OR 97520
ph. 541.531.7007
info@lorismadeleines.com
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