PROMOTION
THE GREAT British Bake Off may be all the rage right now, but after a summer of tootling round the Dordogne parking up outside patisseries, it was French sweet treats that I was hankering after.
The passion fruit éclair was my personal favourite, with a taste so delicious it made a traitor of me
Bisous Bisous in Didsbury Village fitted the bill perfectly. Its adorable pastel-hued interior and exquisite confections are almost too pretty to be real, a piece of Parisian art-house cinema transported to Manchester. Snatches of French conversation from expat regulars and cute labels only add to the appeal. Somehow, 'entremet au café' sounds easier on the ear than 'coffee gateau' but each cake comes with English subtitles so there's no risk of confusion.
An afternoon spent tasting the tarts, gateaux and éclairs at Bisous Bisous was quite literally a dream come true. I've been counting the days to this one, like a child looking forward to the summer holidays. It didn't disappoint.
There's something for every palate at Bisous Bisous, but every cake is a visual delight, quite simply beautiful. Seeing them all together excites the senses in a way no art exhibition ever could.
The passion fruit éclair was my personal favourite, with a taste so delicious it made a traitor of me. Sorry Grandma, your home-made chocolate éclairs, which I used to love so much, were nothing compared to this. Sweet but never cloying, the passion fruit éclair had a slight crunch from the seeds which added a subtle tingle and the whole thing was so fresh, it just tasted alive.
The chocolate and pistachio éclair and the cherry éclair also worked beautifully, with their richer, more grown-up flavours.
I'm a real sucker for fruity flavours so the choux chantilly and the fruit tart were my other top picks. The choux chantilly was as light as a cloud and the puréed strawberry within was a delightful surprise whilst the fruit tart was freshness itself with an expertly-sculpted mountain of fruits atop subtly-flavoured vanilla chantilly cream. The biscuity texture of the base was perfect – no soggy bottoms here.
Both the coffee gateau and the chocolate and nut gateau were pure indulgence – luxurious and decadent but with a lightness of touch that prevented them from being overpowering.
The salted caramel religieuses are unmissable for anyone with a sweet tooth. Topped with a golden macaron, these plump little choux nuns are filled with ganache making them seem rather naughty for something with such a pious name.
With a whole spectrum of delicate macarons to choose from, freshly-made breads and pastries as well as cakes galore, everyone needs a trip to Bisous Bisous. Nothing recaptures the excitement of being a kid in a sweet shop like being a grown-up in a cake shop – particularly if it's Bisous Bisous.
Bisous Bisous is located on Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 6RA.
