My favorite evening haunt in Saint-Germain-des-Prés? Not Ralph's, La Palette, or Café de Flore, which are overrun with the kinds of AUP students who camped overnight for Balmain x H&M and are counting the days until the Gilmore Girls revival. It's Gâté, the chic, stylish tearoom with the George Nelson ball clock and sleek Bertoia chairs. All the pretty French pâtisserie I enviously eyed in shop windows- Paris-Brest, onde de choc- I finally got to try here. Meanwhile, my friends enjoyed quiche, pastries, and a pot of Dammann Frères, never guessing it was dedicated gluten-free.
While digging into a rich religieuse au café, I peppered the owner, Emmanuel Grenier, with questions. His wife was diagnosed with celiac disease ten years ago, he explained. Along with a Swedish architect and two other partners, they constructed the modern and refined Gâté. A calming blue interior and minimalist string shelves are welcome departures from the rococo, Louis XV style dominating Paris tearooms. Gâté recruited Sébastien Lenglet, a young pâtissier who worked with Meilleur Ouvrier de France winners, to bring gorgeous gluten-free creations to the Left Bank. "I gave him a bunch of rice flour and told him to have fun," Grenier said. The strategy worked- they were already named one of Paris' must-visit salons de thé by Grazia.
Gâté is really cozy, friendly, and unpretentious, a good spot to catch up on your latest issues of Niépi and Elle Decor. The food- including savory dishes, like soup, fresh bread, and lentil salad- is delicious, creative, and well-priced, with just the perfect amount of texture and flavor. I could write another In Search of Lost Time about their chocolat chaud and tartelette violette alone. Grenier is extremely nice too. I never felt judged for eating desserts two at a time. In fact, once when I ordered a single bûche, he queried, "Only one?" and when I finished, asked if I was full after :) To which I replied, "C'est jolie," because after three years of living here, with a French husband and many friends who only speak French, I still can't string together a proper sentence socially. USA! For better pictures and a complete interview of the Gâté Sans Gluten team, click here.
While digging into a rich religieuse au café, I peppered the owner, Emmanuel Grenier, with questions. His wife was diagnosed with celiac disease ten years ago, he explained. Along with a Swedish architect and two other partners, they constructed the modern and refined Gâté. A calming blue interior and minimalist string shelves are welcome departures from the rococo, Louis XV style dominating Paris tearooms. Gâté recruited Sébastien Lenglet, a young pâtissier who worked with Meilleur Ouvrier de France winners, to bring gorgeous gluten-free creations to the Left Bank. "I gave him a bunch of rice flour and told him to have fun," Grenier said. The strategy worked- they were already named one of Paris' must-visit salons de thé by Grazia.
Gâté is really cozy, friendly, and unpretentious, a good spot to catch up on your latest issues of Niépi and Elle Decor. The food- including savory dishes, like soup, fresh bread, and lentil salad- is delicious, creative, and well-priced, with just the perfect amount of texture and flavor. I could write another In Search of Lost Time about their chocolat chaud and tartelette violette alone. Grenier is extremely nice too. I never felt judged for eating desserts two at a time. In fact, once when I ordered a single bûche, he queried, "Only one?" and when I finished, asked if I was full after :) To which I replied, "C'est jolie," because after three years of living here, with a French husband and many friends who only speak French, I still can't string together a proper sentence socially. USA! For better pictures and a complete interview of the Gâté Sans Gluten team, click here.
Gâté
11 Rue Dupuytren
Métro: Odéon
Instagram: @gatesansgluten
Instagram: @gatesansgluten
Aren't desserts meant to be eaten two at a time? ;) Gilmore Girls in France? Oh là là I just discovered them on Netflix last year. I adore the geekness, book references, and mother/daughter relationship. I would probably be hanging out with the countdown lovelies. Although, tea, dessert, a book and/or friends sounds perfect too. Do you find people both drink coffee and tea or are there clear "camp" lines drawn? And where does hot chocolate fit into the beverage picture? Have a lovely weekend; you and yours stay safe.
ReplyDeleteHaha I grew up on Gilmore Girls, which is probably why I talk too fast and try too hard to make obscure pop culture references :) But I'd rather be at a place full of real French people like Gâté, even if I end up peaking English with the owner most of the time! Most places make their own hot chocolate, Gâté included, and I think it's something people order on the weekends when they're out relaxing. There seems to be less of a coffee / tea drinker delineation over here. I feel people will have one or the other after a meal depending on how they feel. Good question, I'll keep an eye out and see what my friends think. And thank you so much Tonette, you are too sweet, you stay safe as well!
DeleteI would love to know what your friends say about tea/coffee. I had the best hot chocolate in a little cafe in Scotland. Who knew? :) I am way behind on all TV shows, I'd rather read, we only have a TV because darling husband "needs" it for sports.
DeleteThat's the only reason we have a tv too! I haven't even turned it on ever :)
Deletei confess, i am one of the ones counting down to the gilmore girls reboot! but I would never wait in line for balmain anything. the pastries look divine. would you mind telling me which pastry is which. we're going to france for the first time (a fellow celiac like you) in december and i'm a newb when it comes to all things french and patisserie related. i tried to match the pictures up to the choices on the menu but i'm not quite sure how well i guessed? i'm mostly used to making my own gluten-free foods at home. it will be exciting enjoying desserts i didn't have to bake or clean up!
ReplyDeleteHi Margaret! I admit, I glanced at the Isabel Marant for H&M out of curiosity...and Lemaire for Uniqlo. The first three pictures are onde de choc. The fourth is choux pastry. Five, tartelette violette. 6 religeuse au café 7 Paris-Brest (choux with praline cream). I need to try the other ones, I'm not quite sure which is which either :) I make most of my own stuff at home too, but this is stuff I could never attempt in a million years so I can understand your excitement!
DeleteHave you ever tried making choux pastry at home? It's relatively easy. The recipe can also be adapted for eclairs. Sensitive Epicure has a good one. All you need is a half cup of 1 to 1 gluten-free flour blend, 1/4 cup each water and milk, and a few pats butter, sugar, salt, and a couple eggs. Once you pipe them, you cut them in half to make eclairs. My kids love ice cream or frozen Cool Whip in theirs, which I suppose would get me laughed out of a French bakery! I would love to try that onde de choc though. Looks yummy!
ReplyDeleteHi Rebeckah! I never ever tried it! I didn't realize eclairs were easy at all. Sounds good, I would love ice cream in an ecalir- perfect for summer.
Deleteariana exceptionally i was by odéon and made sure to stop on the corner for a bite and thé.
ReplyDeleteit is truly a beautiful place, and the owner is kind. everything was delicious.
have you tried the bûche de noël?
belle journée,
léa
HI Léa! I went in and got one today after seeing your comment. Glad you liked the place. My first bûche! I had the vanilla one, it was delicious.
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