(Photo: Daniel Maurer)
Takeout joints within the Lower East Side’s Cologne Zone have traditionally pandered to the drunk and hungry, but amidst the taco shacks and recently opened 99-cent slice joints, a decidedly haute concept has arrived. Les Jardins de la Duchesse, as the Orchard Street newcomer is haughtily called, will specialize in eclairs. That’s right, eclairs.
Actually, there will be something here for the sauced: the petite patisserie will offer a bacon-wrapped goat-cheese eclair, plus three other savory varieties along with six sweet ones. According to its website, they’ll be made by Chef Antoine Pelhate, who apprenticed in France at age 15 and went on to work in Swiss restaurants and hotels. Among his sweet pastries are a coffee eclair stuffed with Arabica coffee cream and topped with coffee icing. Hello.
The shop is so “dedicated to the awakening of the senses,” that it promises to freshly bake four to six batches during the day, using “high quality raw materials such as high quality chocolate and fresh fruits.”
There will also be coffee, tea, and hot white chocolate as well as fruit juices.
Les Jardins de la Duchesse, nr. Rivington St.
