Master baker Dominique Guelin creates new pastry, Grillé aux Pomme, utilizing fresh apples from Kiyokawa Orchards in Hood River
PORTLAND, Ore. (Sept. 14, 2012) – This fall St. Honoré Boulangerie will feature two new fall pastries, the Grillé Aux Pomme and Tarte aux Pommes, both of which showcase the season’s quintessential fruit- apples. Owner and master baker Dominique Geulin set out to take advantage of Oregon’s bountiful produce by collaborating with Hood River’s Kiyokawa Orchards on the pastries. After tasting through their apple crop he decided to use Akane apples since heat allows the sugar in the apples to caramelize and concentrate while their natural firmness keeps them from becoming mushy. The apples will be a prominent feature in both pastries as well as St. Honoré’s popular Normandy Apple Toast beginning Sept. 14. Throughout the year St. Honoré will collaborate with Oregon producers to feature locally grown products in their handmade pastries.
Grillé Aux Pomme
This new creation from Guelin was inspired by a recipe for apple butter called “Le Pommé,” found in an ancient cookbook dating back to 1750, Suite des Dons de Comus ou l’Art de la cuisine, réduit en pratique. He recreates the recipe to create a filling by slow-roasting the apples for five hours in the brick oven, simply with hard apple cider imported from Normandy. No sugar is added; instead the natural sugar from the apples slowly caramelizes in the oven, giving it a unique flavor and deep amber and rose or pink color. The top puff pastry is cut in a lattice pattern, “Grillé” in French, which creates a beautiful, unique look as well as its delicate and crisp texture.
PRICE $3.90/slice
Available Sept. 14 – through November
Tarte aux Pommes
This French-style apple tart is made with very simple ingredients; puff pastry, butter, a touch of sugar and fresh Akane apples. This variety is ideal for these tarts due to its slightly tart flavor and texture that holds up well when baked.
PRICE $3.90/slice
Available Sept. 14 – through November
Normandy Apple Toast
One of St. Honoré Bakery’s most popular pastries since its opening. Brioche and croissant pieces soaked in a rich custard sauce flavored with vanilla and rum, baked with apple halves on top. This is like pain perdu, or “French Toast”, made into a special pastry that can be enjoyed as a satisfying breakfast or as an afternoon snack.
PRICE $3.90/piece
Available throughout the year