Maison Tixier-Maréchal
Coffee Éclair
Praline tartelette
Baba Au Rhum
Cream Puff
Praline Brioche
Tarte Tatin
Paris Brest
Cherry Clafoutis
Chocolate Religeuse
Selected for post-lunch snacks before packing up for a trip to Valence largely as a result of its location close to Café Comptoir Abel, it was admittedly with little knowledge of Tixier & Marechal that I entered the small shop on Rue Vaubecour, yet once again demonstrating that almost any Parisserie in France is prone to impress when compared to all but the very best in America a selection of nine items ranging from petit-fours to things far more substantial proved almost universally outstanding, the low price of just 16.40€ presenting perhaps the best deal in all of Lyon when taking into account both the variety and quality entailed.
Listed officially as “Patisserie d’Ainay, Maison Tixier Marechal” on the signage outside, and during this visit staffed by a lone young woman whose bright smile and fledgling English were more than enough to assist in assembling a sizable order that saw some bites left over for breakfast the next day, it was just after 14h00 that my entry found the selection still extensive and although at first questioning whether all would prove fresh nearly eight hours after opening the first bites of a small roll of praline studded brioche set aside almost all doubts, the sugar lacquered exterior still crisp while the inside unfolded in wisps of yeast, butter, and eggs.
Moving next to a small rosy tart, the flavor nearly identical to that of the brioche with a butter crust inspiring hope for things to come, a quartet of choux based pastries were soon to follow – the tiny éclair unfortunately proving a touch soggy while the cream puff, Religeuse, and ring shaped Brest were the very definition of excellence, the chocolate mousse admittedly quite rich when paired to a topping of ganache, while both the vanilla custard and hazelnut cream offered robust flavor despite the sort of lightness only achieved by those willing to invest time and effort in the craft.
Enjoying yet another baba, this one a small version with alcohol almost entirely replaced by sugar syrup beneath a raspberry plus a dollop of cream, it was onward to one of the best tarte tatins served outside a fine dining establishment that the tasting progressed and yet as good as the caramelized apples atop a flaky crust truly were not a single item tasted prior could stand up to the pudding-soft clafoutis, the preparation so authentic that the custard was baked golden despite a center still jiggling, the cherries still featuring their pits offered in such a quantity that they comprised nearly 2/3 of the slice.
http://www.patisserie-tixier.com/