Venison & Pork Brioche @ Le Petite Boulanger, Clapham, London

[limster]

A smallish bakery on Abbeville Road.

Great meaty flavours in this savoury brioche. Just the right level of juiciness in the filling, without soaking the soft wispy bread.

Other stuff was ok: a pretty good eclair, with a smooth and slightly starchy filling (this was the white chocolate version), faintly crusty and slightly soft choux pastry outside; a canele de bordeaux with moderately crisp crust, but with interiors that were more chewy/spongy rather than custardy, and without as much vanilla flavour as I would have like.

Anyone tried the croissants or pain au chocolat?

[gembellina]

After reading the canele threads on the Home Cooking board, I've been interested in finding a good version to try. Sounds like this isn't the one. Any recommendations for the perfect canele in London?

[limster]

Not commonly seen unfortunately. And even the one I had at Helene Darroze a couple years ago was only ok. What's tricky is getting both the crunchy exterior and the soft custardy interior.

[mjgauer]

I had a very good one at the ever-controversial (but for me, excellent) Hedone a month or so again which kicked a Le Gavroche one I had last year to the curb. Great crunchy exterior and light and soft inside.

Only problem is the trip to Chiswick and price tag of a full meal required to get one!

[limster]

Thanks, that's a good tip. Will give it a try, especially since the Hedone hype appears to have died down, and if they're as serious about sourcing as the press makes it out to be, vegetables in the spring would be a great test.

[mjgauer]

My thinking as well - should be exciting to see what they can do in the upcoming seasons.

My one tip for when you go would be to sit at the bar by the kitchen - it was the considerable interaction with Mikael there that really made it special.

[limster]

BTW, have you posted about Hedone? If not, I'd be very grateful if you could add more to this thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/797372

[mjgauer]

Done! http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/797372

[limster]

Thanks, will give them a try; hopefully will get a chance soon.