Vert Marc
Laminated Praline Biscuit
Apple Tarte
Caramel Tarte
Butter Croissant
Chocolate Baton
Having spent a restless night in a humid hotel along the main street of Chaudes-Aigues it was just before dawn that I awoke, and deciding to take a morning run through hilly city streets a substantial amount of ground was covered, the townsfolk encountered along the route all exceedingly friendly including the owners of two local bakeries, the first Patisserie de la Source du Par and second Vert Marc.
Obviously a space not frequented by foreigners, and expectedly not particularly attuned to limited French though more than willing to try, it was by a lone woman who also appeared to be the baker that my arrival was welcomed and with no less than two-dozen options tempting behind glass while several more sat cooling on shelves a five-part order was crafted, the total tab of just 9.10€ proving an incredible bargain for the portions, quality, and ingredients entailed.
Lacking seating like most boulangeries in central France, it was with car parked nearby that I took still-warm goods to the banks of a nearby river to enjoy as the sun came up, and beginning with a soft butter croissant with yawning caves of lamination my anticipation quickly grew with regard to a flaky praline biscuit crafted of the very same dough, the crisp pink shellac tasting sweet as candy with a thin coat of nuts helping meld it to shattering layers below.
Attempting, as usual, to progress from lighter flavors to those more ‘dessert-like’ and bold, it was next into a duo of tartes that teeth were sunken, the warm apple version absolutely excellent with fruits slightly blackened while the caramel version was almost too rich to be enjoyed at 7h00, the rest saved until later as an indulgent bite en route back to Lyon.
Admittedly trending quite full considering the aforementioned stop at Source du Par it was perhaps a bit foolhardy to even take a bite of the chocolate baton, but with the exterior crisp and golden with dark chocolate still molten the subsequent satiety was absolutely worth it, more than half the pastry eaten with my only regret being that a cup of good coffee was nowhere to be had.