Fitzwilliam D.
Yelp
Master of his art. Far from the madding crowds...
I did not think it could be possible. I'd just lost all appetite after passing through a bakery (average 4.5 stars) that was teeming with flies, and angry at those who rated it highly without mentioning the health hazard. But, I continued walking to Carl Marletti - to see if I should make a return trip later to purchase anything. But, a few minutes inside, and guided by the knowledgeable staff, I returned to a state of zen-like calm. Perhaps the Buddhist temple priests use desserts in their visualization techniques?? ;)
While other patissiers are striving to create an impression of a jewelry store in their patisseries, Carl Marletti dares to be different: With his exquisite, brightly colored creations, he appears to be running a fashion show, and manically in search of France's Next Top Model... It was just my good fortune to show up when they needed a judge :)
In a remarkable lack of discipline (likely because I was still furious at the prior bakery), I forgot to consult my research for Carl Marletti's greatest hits... and so didn't get any of them:
Lily valley: Carl's version of Saint Honore but with violet Chantilly cream (and deep violet sugar crown)
Censier: Dark chocolate quenelle, crunchy thanks to garnish of Praline and Rice Krispies and pop rocks!
Marie Antoinette: Carl's response to the Ispahan
Dome Caraibe: hazelnut chocolate sable, milk chocolate and passion fruit crème, and mango drizzle!
Mont-Blanc: hazelnut dacquoise biscuit, light chestnut mousse, topped with mascarpone vanilla cream.
Instead, I got what I liked in the moment, and to round out the flavors:
Millefeuille vanille: crisp, lightly caramelized, creamy (vanilla cream)
Delice d'Emma: dark chocolate mousse, biscuit sacher, confit of raspberries, enrobed in dark chocolate
Paradis Latin: citrus biscuit coated with raspberry confit, vanilla sabayon with fruits, shaped like a rose
Cikara: soft citrus biscuit, light caramel mousse, and candied lime
Beyond the pastries, I also took with me the Romia (Florentines: nougatine with almonds) and Les Diamants choco (chocolate sables, comparable quality to the ones I loved at Maison C Faure in Montreal)
It's almost impossible to award only a single rose amongst such a bevy of beauties, which perhaps explains why man is genetically programmed NOT to be monogamous... if I were forced to choose from the ones I got acquainted with, I'd happily go with Le Paradis Latin...