Belle Epoque Patisserie Review With Photos Of My Purchases

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If you're on instagram you've probably seen this beautiful looking gold eclair floating around and wondered to yourself if it's even real! Perhaps it's just a unique ornament - Or some kind of new age jewellery. It almost seems rude to eat such a well put together choux pastry! Well I ate one anyway... It's definitely not jewellery.

Belle Epoque Patisserie Gold Eclair

Tired of corner shop cake, I devised a cunning plan. I decided I would brave the rough streets of Highbury and Islington. My destination : The French Patisserie that is Belle Epoque. It's easy to get to. Turn right when exiting the station, walk for about 5 minutes and there it is across the road.

The area itself is a bit grubby. I wouldn't choose to come to this branch of Belle Epoque for a sit down visit. Which is a shame, because the shop itself is the complete opposite. The store is typically Parisian, with a sleek monochrome colour theme. There are a few stools and tables against the wall. Plus two outdoor tables.

The sweet treats in the shop window look so luxurious. Delicate, shiny, pretty things. All perfectly positioned. The friendly staff member was a native French woman. She explained the flavours of the current Belle Epoque eclair collection to me, and I didn't hesitate to order one of each - Plus a box of macarons for extra good luck.

Now for the big reveal..
Feast your eyes upon these beauties.

Belle Epoque Eclairs

The pink Belle Epoque eclair is raspberry and lychee flavour. It's supposed to taste like rose. The white discs on top are a smooth, milky white chocolate. The shiny pink icing is quite thin and not very memorable in terms of taste. The filling is fruity, with a mild sharpness. I couldn't make out the rose or lychee though.

Belle Epoque Raspberry and Rose Eclair

The green Belle Epoque eclair is apple and ginger flavour. The real pieces of ginger on top aren't too overpowering. The green fondant topping tastes a little powdery and not very flavoursome. The filling is a mild apple puree, and the flowers on top are smooth, milky white chocolate. I got a bit ahead of myself buying this eclair to be honest, as I already knew it wouldn't be a taste preference of mine.

Belle Epoque Apple and Ginger Eclair

The gold Belle Epoque eclair is filled with a smooth vanilla creme brulee. You can see black vanilla specks, which is a good sign. The topping is a lovely crisp nougatine. Not too hard. Overall this eclair has a mild taste. It's mildly sweet, and there's a slight tang to it. The dark chocolate logo on top is smooth and creamy.

Belle Epoque Gold Nougatine Eclair

Now for the Belle Epoque macarons. This was my first taste of macarons, and I must say they're pretty good. I've always expected macarons to be too sweet and hard, but thankfully they're not!

Belle Epoque Macarons

These taste a little bit like meringues, which just so happen to be one of my favourite treats. I bought a pack of 5 in assorted flavours. Chocolate is by far the best, but maybe I'm being biased - as I am a chocoholic! They're so light, with a delicate crunch and a smooth creamy center.

Belle Epoque Vanilla Macaron

I'd probably only go back to Belle Epoque try their fruit danishes and OMG their unique hybrid - danish crumbles! Might have to ring ahead beforehand though, to check that they have them in stock. There were none when I arrived and I was there in the morning. Sobs.

Appearances really can be deceptive, as the eclairs from Belle Epoque didn't taste as good as they looked. They weren't memorable or moorish. A little too mild and not chocolatey enough. However, if you like your sweet things a bit less sweet, and you're into fruity treats then you'll probably love Belle Epoque eclairs. As for me though, you can gimme an original chocolate eclair any day.

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