Sadaharu Aoki

June 14, 2013

This post is one of many documenting my week in Paris, a present to myself for graduating pastry school in the fall of 2012. Every moment was spent eating and one post wasn’t enough. It’s now a short novel. Kidding. I hope.

IMG_1377

Sadaharu Aoki is a small patisserie that incorporates Asian flavors into French pastries, any one of which I’d recommend taking and enjoying in the nearby Luxembourg Gardens. If in the mood to make a real picnic of pastries, also stop by Pierre Herme a few blocks away for traditional French items.

The rainbow of layered cakes above: macha azuki (red bean), cheese cake citronne (lemon), chocolat pralin, sensuelle (chocolate, raspberry), cassis chocolat (blackcurrant), zen (sesame, green tea, white chocolate), bamboo (green tea, dark chocolate)

IMG_1378

“Chocarons”, chocolate-covered macarons which at the time was a new concept for me. I had yet to discover that Bouchon Bakery also has their version called “Oh No You Didn’t”.

IMG_1373

An Asian art piece above the pastry counter. The macarons look a bit like cherry blossoms and leaves.

IMG_1384b

While the chocarons intrigued me, I ultimately decided on pastries.

IMG_1391b

This sesame eclair was outstanding and by far the most interesting and delicious I’ve ever had. Inside was a generous amount of black sesame pastry cream. The sesame flavor was nice and strong. I enjoyed the nuttiness from the black and white sesames on the icing glaze.

IMG_1402b

The most beautiful profiterole (cream puff), overflowing with an incredibly rich pastry cream. I don’t know if I can say its a negative thing, like when a cupcake has too much frosting but I suppose my only comment then is there was a bit too much pastry cream. I wish I had a couple extra of the perfectly round crackly puffs to fill.

Of the cakes I selected “Bamboo”, layers of biscuit, green tea cream and dark chocolate ganache. Unfortunately I did not care for this pastry. I was disappointed by my disappointment. I really wanted to like it but the green tea flavor wasn’t strong enough, as I find with many green tea flavored items and just overall it wasn’t anything special. Perhaps if I selected “Zen” the contrast of the green tea with the sweet white chocolate would have been better.

IMG_1410b

I finished on a high note with this salted caramel tart. The crust was crumbly like a cookie and within it, a velvety salted caramel filling with a good amount of salt. The milk chocolate cream on top, piped in concentric circles, was sweet and paired nicely with the caramel.

Sadaharu Aoki
56 boulevard de Port Royal
75005

2 Comments

  • Reply Игровые автоматы April 6, 2016 at 11:37 pm

    the pastries not only look good here but they taste just as good!  where else in paris can you find asian influenced flavor macarons?  black sesame, wasabi, yuzu, matcha, and genmatcha to name a few.  they macarons are different but they are delicious.  sadaharu aoki is one of the few pastry shops that does not charge for a box for the macarons.  yay for the flavors and free box!

    • Reply Jenn July 26, 2016 at 7:35 pm

      Yes Asian twists on pastries seem to be more popular now. I am not sure of any other shops that focus on Asian flavors like Sadaharu Aoki does. Sorry!

    Leave a Reply