There's a saint for almost everything in France and indulging in this pastry, the Saint Honoré, named for a 6th century bishop from Amiens who became the patron of bakers, is a quasi religious experience.
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The American woman at Pierre Hermé refused to try a "Vanille Bourbon" macaron - that exquisite variety of vanilla hailing from the former Bourbon islands (such as Réunion, once called Île Bourbon under the French kings) - because, she explained, she was "on the wagon" - obviously assuming it was bourbon whisky flavored with vanilla...
In French pâtisserie tradition, vanilla is highly prized for its complex, aromatic depth derived from real vanilla beans (gousses de vanille), the best sourced from Madagascar and Tahiti. True vanille flavor comes from scraping the tiny black seeds (grains or points noirs) from the pod, infusing creams, custards, and pastries with authentic richness far superior to synthetic vanillin or artificial extracts. When encountering a dessert labeled “vanille” - such as crème pâtissière in éclairs, tarts, or mille-feuilles - the more discerning might be spotted bending over inspecting closely to make sure certain expectations are being met. Yellow ice cream labeled “French vanilla” would never cut it in France, as the true hallmark of genuine quality is the presence of those characteristic tiny black specks. - BPJ
