212315 Tue Jul 20 23:43:10 -0700 2004 10 18 Manhattan 0 1129797 Where can I find a reasonably priced good french pastry shop. I would love to put away some tasty french pastries with rasberry season coming on. Tue Jul 20 23:43:10 -0700 2004 0 Foodeater2 1 1129800 Financier down on Stone Street in the Financial District is my favorite. Wed Jul 21 00:09:05 -0700 2004 1129797 0 Amy 2 1129809 "Ceci Cela" on Spring St. makes a heavenly raspberry Napoleon, and "Cafe Tartine" has a Chocolate Delice also made with raspberries that is formidable as they say. Wed Jul 21 03:48:47 -0700 2004 1129800 0 Jon 3 1129819 Patisserie Claude on W. 4 (between 6th & 7th Ave) St. rocks! Nice croissants, tarts, eclairs, etc. But Claude is on his yearly vacation now. He'll be back on August 9. Wed Jul 21 09:26:07 -0700 2004 1129809 0 Food Groupie 4 1129826 i live right around the corner from there, but shamefully have not been (something about a diet, ugh). but everyone always looks very happy munching inside, except for claude (i assume) with a big frown and his arms crossed, glowering from behind the display case of pastries. when i do go there -- if i could only get one thing --what should it be? Wed Jul 21 09:55:48 -0700 2004 1129819 0 softserve 5 1129885 Claude is serious but nice when you get to know him. :) Their croissants are the real thing, so I would suggest starting there. Their mini pastries are also terrific, and if you've never had a "Dacquoise Cake" before, you should definitely try one sometime. They are made with layers of baked meringue instead of cake and have a mocha-hazelnut buttercream icing. Yum x 2. Wed Jul 21 12:49:45 -0700 2004 1129826 0 Jon 6 1129892 my mom was just telling me about that this weekend -- the dacquoise cake. or something very much like it that she ate as a child. except she called it "torta russa" (she's argentinean). i suggested that it might be equivalent to a pavlova. something i've only seen in the nigella cookbook but never in real life. The meringue is the crucial part. Wed Jul 21 12:58:04 -0700 2004 1129885 0 softserve 7 1129990 re baked meringueYou can make a quick, elegant desert with ice cream and meringue. Just use an oversize ballon wineglass, add two scoops of vanilla ice cream, crumble merinque over the ice cream generously, and then spoon a raspberry cordial or liquor oven the meringue. Sprinkle some shaved chocolate, or cocoa powder over merinque and serve. Vary flavors accordingly (choc. ice crea/cherry cordial, etc.). Wed Jul 21 18:10:26 -0700 2004 1129892 0 Jon 7 1130303 Dacquoise is nothing like pavlova. It's chewy, thin nut meringue layers filled with buttercream, whereas pavlova is a plain meringue "cup" filled with whipped cream and fresh fruit. Thu Jul 22 23:31:17 -0700 2004 1129892 0 Caitlin McGrath 5 1129924 I pretty much stick to Patisserie Claude's chocolate croissants -- they're my downfall! But everything there is of high quality. I forgot to mention Patisserie Margot, also great for French pastries (fruit tarts, etc.) There is one on Lexington between E. 82 & 83 and one on Broadway & W. 74. Wed Jul 21 15:15:53 -0700 2004 1129826 0 Food Groupie 2 1129825 Just stoped in this morning.... delicious and a cute little place Wed Jul 21 09:50:59 -0700 2004 1129800 0 Mark Z