It was the rainbow stripes of pop-art colour that drew me in to L’Eclair de Génie, the sleek, modern store on rue de Pavée that is the creation of exceptionally talented French pâtissier Christophe Adam – who must have the wildest imagination. Formerly a pastry chef at Fauchon, this risk taker is part of a new generation of chefs experimenting with and redesigning the classics, and this fusty old favourite has seen a very chic makeover indeed!

The evolving collection made with top-notch ingredients changes daily and there’s an extraordinary range of dazzling finishes from high gloss to the occasional digital image (think Mona Lisa’s eyes).

Among the delights in today’s line-up: marscapone salted-butter caramel, a highly lacquered red raspberry, vanilla cream with caramelised pecans, chocolate coconut (which looks rather like an Aussie finger bun), hazelnut praline, orange pistachio and a tangy-yellow raspberry passion.

I order a raspberry passion and at 5.50 € a pop these four-bite wonders are not cheap, but like everyone else in the store I am powerless to resist. You can also take away a rainbow box of 4, 6 or 10 of your choice to devour at your hotel or on a park bench in the nearby Place des Vosges – but I doubt they will make it that far.

I had to discipline myself until I photographed mine, but I’m pleased to report that on first bite the creamy custard exploded in my mouth with an intense and fabulous passionfruit flavour.

The post L’Eclair de Génie appeared first on knife & fork in the road.