An eclair by any other name ...
You never know what's going to turn up in your food these days. Irradiated spices, maybe. Or a food additive made from human hair.
Every once in a while, the surprise ingredient is a pleasant one. Like rose.
Petals from dried, organic, heirloom roses are crumbled up and sprinkled atop the chocolate ganache on eclairs served at Hampden's Puffs & Pastries. The airy mousse filling is flavored with a rose syrup and rose water, both made with natural ingredients that give the cream a lovely pink color.
The flavor is floral to the point of perfume-y -- too much for my little boy when he tried a bite this morning. My husband and I thought the rose cream nicely complemented the rich, dark chocolate frosting, though we were happy to split a single $4 eclair.
Chef-owner Anisha Jagtap said many customers are surprised to come across pastries flavored with rose.
"They're so wary of that rose flavor," she said.
But the flavor is common in other parts of the world, including India, where it shows up in ice cream.
"It's definitely your regular flavor," she said. "It's like mint chocolate chip. There's a rose petal ice cream. ... I try to bring a lot of edible flowers to the Baltimore scene."
Photo by math-hubby
Comments
The City Paper has a short write-up about Puffs & Pastries this week. I drove past there this afternoon. Hampden is a colorful neighborhood, indeed.
Posted by: NotableM | March 27, 2010 3:56 PM
Ani is probably the most talented pastry chef working in Baltimore today
She does a great wholesale business, too
Posted by: Luca B | March 27, 2010 8:14 PM
A very glowing review:
http://www.citypaper.com/eat/review.asp?rid=15882
Posted by: NotableM | March 27, 2010 9:04 PM
A hidden gem. I picked a few items for a special housewarming gift and they were a big hit. It's worth the trip to Hampden!
Posted by: Artie B | March 28, 2010 8:42 AM
Her desserts are fabulous as are her sandwiches! Well worth the trip.
Posted by: baltimoregal | March 29, 2010 12:51 PM
It's worth the trip to Hampden!
Well worth the trip.
Jeez, you make it sound like a passport, a compass, and a trail of breadcrumbs are needed to get to Hampden and back home again.
Posted by: hmpstd | March 29, 2010 3:07 PM
Last year I had a great sandwich there that was made with smoked bacon and sliced peaches. The flavors were wonderful.
Posted by: missy | March 30, 2010 9:51 AM
Actually, hmpstd, I live IN Hampden, but I'm aware that people outside the city read this blog. I also know that this little restaurant not always seen by those from out of town.
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