The Patisserie at The Connaught is an “essential” shop! While all shops selling food stayed open during most of lockdown, we are delighted that bakeries and pastries fall into that category because in some way it is. They were the little things that gave hoomans the little breaks and a little lift from the days that blended into each other.
When the rules of lockdown in England eased last Monday, once again the “rule of six” or two households could meet outside, we left our neighbourhood and headed over to The Connaught Patisserie.
We had found this dog-friendly patisserie quite by accident while we were having a staycation at the hotel last December. We had gone out for walkies at the Mount Street Gardens when we saw a queue of people outside the store – and proceeded to check it out. It was shades of pink inside – and immediately we knew this was going to be a place we like. The pastries were amazing and throughout this third lockdown, Mum dreamt of when we could return to treat herself.
And so we finally returned.
Look at their signature Connaughty Hound …
Now, Mum said she had the best hazelnut Paris-Brest from here …
but this time, she had a citrus tart because she thought, since we’re still unable to sit at the shop to eat the cake, it would be an easier to eat sitting on a park bench.
Before we left to go home, we had another mission. She wanted the Easter eggs from the nearby Marchesi 1824 as we moved from the French patisserie to the famous Milanese pasticceria.
Mum knows Marchesi 1824 from her days in Italy – they are the best pasticceria in Milan.
Alas, after all that wait, the milk chocolate with hazelnut praline Easter eggs were sold out! Oh bugger!
But they have this? What do you think?
Nooooo, said Mum – it has to be milk chocolate and preferably with hazelnut! LOL! Do you get a sense of Mum’s chocolate preference?
May’s comment: Oh, the little joys during lockdown. When there wasn’t much we could do, and each day flowed into the next, we found ways of giving ourselves a little treat. Whether it was stopping at the Gelateria near us after our essential walkies around the neighbourhood (there was always a queue outside) or having half a dozen cupcakes delivered to home, it was these little things that gave us all a little lift during the most mundane of days.
Food shops have stayed open during most of lockdown. I had come across The Connaught Patisserie when we were having a staycation at The Connaught last December.
In a week’s time, non-essential shops in England will reopen again following the Government’s road map … and we see more of the life we once knew. And if all goes to plan, we will be able to enjoy these places once again but not until the 17th May when we are allowed to dine inside. I am sure we will be back there again!
The Connaught Patisserie – the cakes and pastries were crafted by Executive Pastry Chef Nicolas Rouzaud and his team of patissiers. The Connaught, Carlos Pl, Mayfair, London W1K 2AL
Marchesi 1924 – Steeped in tradition, Pasticceria Marchesi is one of Milan’s oldest and finest pastry shops. It is considered a benchmark for the quality of its fresh patisserie, its signature chocolates and its classic Milanese Panettone.117 Mount St, Mayfair, London W1K 3LA
