The long and imposing black shop front matches very well with the chic Haussmannian building. We are in the 15th arrondissement and yet, we could be at Place Vendôme in an established jewellers. On first impressions it's the same thrill of going to buy a gemstone, except that here the diamonds are edible and cost a fraction of the price.
In the middle of the room lies a long display case that has all the pastry jewels on show. The mini-kouglof (€2.40) glistens in a thousand lights with its crystalised sugar icing. To taste, it's as soft as a pillow and the smell tickles your nose like a buttered butterfly.
It is as if Claire Damon, the chief jeweller of this patisserie, wants to preserve her most beautiful treasures. Taken downstairs, we are treated to a dozen desserts with seasonal fruits (which should be noted as being quite rare in Parisian pastries).
A baba, prepared with the first strawberries of the season (€6.20) sits next to a Corsican grapefruit cake (€7). The powdered pink cylinder topped with a rose petal is beautiful. So beautiful that you might hesitates to take it out of its box to eat it... Until you have the first bite with hints of fresh grapefruit, a pink mousse as light as air and a rice flour biscuit, as soft as sponge cake. It is a real gem of pastry.
Naturally, these beautiful jewels are more of a treat than a daily occurrence. This kind of quality comes at a price.