Lady M

Have you ever paid attention to the pastry basket we keep near the register at most Lady M boutiques?

The cakes take center stage, regal and lovely, all lined in perfection. They are the heart of Lady M. And you'll pause for the individual-sized sweets, Very Berry Tarts, grand Mont Blancs, and Éclairs (don't forget about the Green Tea version available only at Bryant Park). But the pastry basket is a quiet, shining star, beloved to longtime customers for its subtle elegance.

Look closely; we'll always have exactly four types of sweets available in the pastry basket. Let's take a look at them all. Pictured above is the Meringue Shell - simple in appearance, but quite intricate as a whole. We start with house-made puff pastry, which serves as the base to support a filling of ground, toasted almond cream and sweet apricots (the two make a marvelous pairing). We top it with a soft meringue shell, give it a crosshatch for good measure, and bake until crisp and delicate. You'll get a myriad of textures when you bite in, all so complementary.  The meringue shells are fairly small pastries, and one of our all-time favorites.

Next up is the Mini Choux, which is made from our classic pâte à choux recipe. Light and airy, each is sized for two perfect bites, and baked till puffy and golden. Once they come out of the oven, we let them cool, and then pipe in a vanilla-accented crème bavaroise. The result is a dreamy nibble that would be most ideal for afternoon tea.

Petit Chocolat is our take on the tiniest chocolate cake (it is so tiny that we have been guilty of tucking away a few in our purse for when the inevitable sweet tooth hits). It's made of a very dark chocolate, decadent in flavor but oh-so-light on the texture. The slightly crisp surface sinks deep into a brownie-esque center, just heady enough to bring a sense of indulgence. A shot of espresso or fine Americano is exactly what we'd like to pair with this.

Galette really embodies our pastry basket: modest in appearance, but so much more to those in the know.

These traditional French shortbread cakes (they are referred to as either cake or cookie, depending on who you ask) originate from Brittany, where it also goes by the name Palet Breton. In Brittany, you can find these cakes in all sizes and all types of establishments. From large, family-style cakes sold at the farmer's market (and baked at home), to fancier versions offered on the dessert menu of fine dining restaurants, galettes are loved by all. It is easy to see why. Deep, golden brown, these cakes are dangerously buttery with a fine crumb. When it comes to a cake like this, made of the most essential and basic ingredients, using the highest quality possible ingredients is especially important. Butter, flour, sugar, and eggs: we pay an incredible amount of attention into sourcing the finest. Our Lady M Galettes are faithfully recreated with an extra touch of rum... because, why not.

Till next time,
Lady M