The best French chocolates and pastries (cake, pastry, bread, crunchy)

[Audren17]

Hi guys,

I’m in London and often travelled in France. The best thing I remember once there was the taste of Belgian chocolates and pastries.There were also a number of things I didn't expected once there but the best one is their gastronomy. Have you ever tasted it? What’s your favorite?

[oregonwoodsmoke]

The best chocolates in France have come out of Belgium. Mammoth sells a 1 pound box of Belgian chocolates that are earth shattering good and a lot cheaper than buying them at a shop in Belgium. Not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. Quite expensive, but much cheaper than buying the same thing in Belgium.

There is a gigantic bar of chocolate that might be French and not Belgian. It has a wrapper with elephants on it. I don't remember the brand name but it is fairly obvious in the grocery store. Their best variety has hazelnuts in it.

For pastries in France, you can't beat the fresh croissants out of the little mom and pop bakeries

[EnricoV]

I'm not a bread lover. The only thing I remember really enjoying eating in France was a Croque Madam.

I'm not huge pastry fan, and didn't have any in all of Europe that I thought was worth a second taste.

[ccm123]

In France, I love the chocolate filled pastries, creme brulee and macarons! Paris has the best deserts!

[fibonacci]

For standard mass produced chocolate that are still high quality, I still don't think anything can beat Cote d' Or chocolate bars (the one Oregon is talking about). Simply outstanding. Hershey's waxy chocolate doesn't even compare to it.

In Paris, Stroher is excellent:

Stohrer | P̢tissier Traiteur РA Paris depuis 1730

Even the queen of England agrees. Although it is touristy and I'm sure smaller mom and pop bakeries exist, Stroher is excellent ($$ price though).

[Ameriscot]

Pain au chocolat. Pure bliss.

[weltschmerz]

I'm in Montreal. We have a hand-made chocolate or French pastry shop on every corner.
I have 5 wihin walking distance from my house.

Thamk goodness I'm not that big of a fan, or I'd weigh 400 kilos.

[Diarry]

Belgian chocolates including truffles and praline-filled chocolates remain the best as far as French chocolates are concerned; however I still stick to the British pastries, especially puff pastry but everyone has his or her preferences.

[arctic_gardener]

Europe (particularly France, Germany and Austria) is the BEST place for satisfying your sweet tooth. I cannot believe anyone who says they prefer North American desserts (which are so bland, heavy and unidimensional). I've lived in Canada for ten years and the whole country outside Quebec fails to offer what any small town in France or Germany offers in their bakeries and patisseries (or backerei/konditorei). The U.S Deep South does have some good desserts because of the fact they grow good fruits and nuts, but the Northern half of the continent is a virtual desert for dessert lovers. Pun not intended. Quebec being the exception...

My favorite French dessert is a layered cake made with a hazelnut crust, roasted hazelnut puree, raspberry-infused whipped cream and raspberry jam. My favorite German dessert is an authentic Schwartzwaldertorte with real kirsch. My favorite Austrian dessert is a slice of walnut cake.

[Audren17]

Croque Madam and the so-called “Pain au chocolat” are among my favorites when I was in France, there weren’t also days I didn’t eat chocolates, truffles and crunchy ones were at the top. Yet, I heard that chocolates reduce stress.