Café Gourmand is the little dessert trend in Paris, the kind of dessert that everybody loves! Almost 40% of the Parisian bistros, brasseries, and restaurants propose this fairly recent Parisian dessert on their menus, and you definitely need to try one when you visit Paris!
Go on reading to learn more about the café gourmand, Paris’ dessert trend, and some café gourmand ideas to prepare at home.
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What is Café Gourmand?
So what is café gourmand? Café gourmand in English could be translated as “gourmet coffee dessert.” Despite the name, the café gourmand is not a modest dessert. Not even a little bit.
Launched a dozen years ago in Paris by the restaurant chain La Criée, the café gourmand dessert consists of a coffee – usually an espresso – plus a selection of pastries and desserts in bite-sized form.
A café gourmand dessert can be in more or less generous forms, and it costs between 5.50€ and 6.50€.
Since its launch, the café gourmand has become one of the French’s favorite desserts, without however dethroning the crème brulée, the profiteroles, or the floating island.
Why Do Parisians Love the Café Gourmand Dessert so Much?
The café gourmand has many virtues apart from being delicious:
The price, between 5 and 6.5€, allows you to treat yourself without spending too much. In Paris, traditional desserts cost between 7 and 8€ in a mid-range restaurant.
You can finish your meal faster because the dessert and the coffee arrive at the same time.
The dessert tray, filled with pastries and ice creams, contains a little bit of everything, then you get to taste more than one! And because of its small size, you feel slightly less indulgent.
Café Gourmand Ideas
Unlike other desserts in Paris, there are no set items that must appear on a café gourmand plate, so it depends on the chef’s creativity. This gives the floor to endless café gourmand ideas! Below, are some café gourmand ideas and tips for preparing a café gourmand at home.
1. The café gourmand has to be beautiful. There is a composition side to it, ideally with a mix of textures, colors, and small containers.
2. Ideally, on a café gourmand dessert, there is something chocolate, something with fruit, and a mini madeleine or mini-pastry (canneles, financiers, macarons, meringue…)
3. Usually, there’s also a local specialty (or the restaurant’s specialty).
4. Many restaurants like to add a bit of ice cream because it gives a touch of lightness to the café gourmand and allows them to play with the hot /cold contrast.
Café Gourmand Presentation
As mentioned above, the café gourmand has to be BEAUTIFUL! The café gourmand is a pleasure for the taste buds but also the eyes.
Traditionally, the café gourmand dessert is served on an individual plate, small dish, or slate.
The cakes can be prepared in standard size and then cut into small portions for the café gourmand.
All creams, mousses, compotes, and other preparations of this style are cooked traditionally and put in small containers afterward for the café gourmand.
Please think about the environment and don’t use containers, little spoons, or forks in plastic. There is always an eco-friendly alternative to plastic. 💚
And there you have it, all about the café gourmand, Paris’ latest and sweet trend. Have you ever tried one?
