Francois Payard Bakery

Every time I trek to the Upper East Side I make a quick stop at Payard for a treat or two. It's impossible to pass up the gorgeous Louvre Cake...

...chocolate and hazelnut mousse layered with hazelnut dacquoise, hazelnut wafer and enrobed in a shiny chocolate glaze.  It's one of my favorite desserts of all time.

Mr. T always sticks with classic French pastries like the eclair. Payard's version is much more elegant than you find in most places.  The classic choux dough is baked to a gorgeous golden brown, stuffed with pastry creme then topped with a thick coffee fondant.

This begs to be eaten slowly with a nice frothy macchiato on the side.

Francois Payard Bakery
1293 3rd Avenue at 74th Street
New York, NY 10021