Finding the place to eat the famous foods of Paris is like finding a needle in a haystack. There’s baguettes and macaroons and red wine on every corner, but that obviously doesn’t mean it’s good, which is why I insisted on returning to Angelina during my most recent visit to France.
On the edge of Jardin de Tuileries, you’ll spot it from the queue snaking along the ivory brickwork; a queue that you’ll understand as soon as you see the patisserie in the window. It has the regal feel of The Ritz when you walk in, with chandeliers and impeccably turned out waiting staff, but its notoriety doesn’t make it intimidating.
I already knew what I wanted to drink before we sat at our corner table, because ever since I’d tried Angelina hot chocolate for the first time in 2014, I pretty much haven’t stopped thinking about it. It is pure liquid indulgence, served in a jug with individual portions of thick cream to top it with, and worthy of stopping conversation so you can give it the attention it deserves.
I regained consciousness enough to understand that maybe hot chocolate doesn’t really make a full breakfast and ordered a croque madame; my boyfriend going for a croissant with scrambled egg and ham. My order was sublime. This isn’t just a toastie: it’s thick slice of ham, sharp Gruyere and topped with creamy bechamel and a runny fried egg. Breakfast at its most indulgent.
Despite already have dessert in the liquid form of our hot chocolates, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to have Angelina’s signature patiserrie: the Mont Blanc. It’s simple but elegant tasting, made with sweetened, pureed chestnuts and topped with whipped cream. I tried a new take on it; the option with a raspberry centre, and the tartness evened out the intense sugar rush I got from the first bite.
We needed to walk afterwards, but we needed to sit down. We needed to talk about how good our meal had been, but we needed to nap and not say a word. We were defeated but my word, we were so happy.
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