Finding genuine French pastries in Brooklyn

[Jessie_bk]

There seem to be a lot of dessert shops in the Booklyn area all offering the same thing. Not that anything is wrong there because I am too lazy to make my own brownies and cupcakes. No harm there I am helping the local shops survive.

But are there any pastry shops in the Park slope or Carroll Gardens area that offer real French pastries using actual French chocolate? There seem to be a real void of options, every shop I've been to has much of the same things.

I love to enjoy small bites of really rich desserts, you know, the rich creamy chocolate with a finish touch of tartness that gives you satisfaction from just a spoon full or two?

[Amy Mintzer]

Just discovered Beny's Delice on Fulton near Clinton. Limited selection, but the raspberry/frangipane tart I had was excellent.

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Beny's Delice
903 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11238

[parkslopemama]

So many places SOUND French (Delices de Paris, Trois Pommes, Provence en Boite, etc.) but, as you know, that doesn't necessarily mean they are really French. I agree with the other posters that Almondine is probably your best bet. If you go to DUMBO with a chocolate craving, you could also stop by Jacques Torres chocolate shop, right across the street!

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Trois Pommes
260 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Almondine
85 Water St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Jacques Torres
66 Water St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Provence en Boite
263 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

[jennitrixie]

There is also an Almondine on 9th St. near 7th Ave. in Park Slope, if PS is more convenient than DUMBO.

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Almondine
442 9th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

[Miss Needle]

If you're going to Almondine in Park Slope, swing by the Belgian Colson Patisserie a block away to see if there's anything that strikes your fancy. I'm partial to their salted caramel tarts and chocolate mousse. Their ham and cheese croissants are delicious as well. Smaller portions compared to American bakeries -- similar to what you'd find in Paris.

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Colson Patisserie
374 9th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Almondine
442 9th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

[angelhair]

I'll second Colson. I much prefer them to Almondine. I believe the owner is from Belgium. I can't speak to their chocolate, since I usually get one of their fruit pastries or the salted caramel tart, but the quality of everything I've had there is quite high. Also, they are very generous in donating to school auctions and charities, so they get points for that from me. Almondine has always refused to donate, FWIW.

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Colson Patisserie
374 9th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

[Tay]

I'm not sure if they still feature their scrumptious pastries but if so, you might want to check out Jean Danet bake shop. It would mean a trip to Bay Ridge 76th st & 5th ave. They had killer stuff.

http://www.jeandanet.com/

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Jean Danet Pastry
7526 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11209

[jen kalb]

Jean Danet seems like mainly an Italian Bakery now. It DID used to have fine french pastries, maybe the do still have good offerings but it hasnt looked too French in recent years.

Marquet on Court Street is definitely a french pastry shop from which I have bought loverly french pastries as well as brioches, etc over the years, however I havent been in there in 2-3 years so cant attest to their consistency nor to their chocolate source. I think both Trois Pommes and Almondine would be worth a try? Others? other opinions?.

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Trois Pommes
260 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Almondine
85 Water St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Marquet Patisserie
221 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Almondine
442 9th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

[son of a butcher]

Almondine in DUMBO is as authentic as there is in Brooklyn. Marquet went downhill for several years. It was a good pastry shop when it was located on Smith Street. When they moved, the quality went south. It's kind of amazing that there are not many fine pasty shops in a borough that professes to have good food.

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Almondine
85 Water St, Brooklyn, NY 11201