Market Day in Bruges – French Pastries

My final stop in Bruges’ Grote Markt area on this wonderful market day, after picking up some delicious chocolate treats at a local artisan chocolate maker, was the elegant French pâtisserie Aux Merveilleux de Fred. I had been eyeing the stunning crystal chandelier and enticing French pastries in their window since I had arrived. My eyes grew even larger as I entered their beautiful boutique.

The chandelier twinkled in the summer sun and those pastries, the fluffy Merveilleux, called my name. At this point I had no idea what a Merveilleux was. All I knew from a sign in the window was that they consisted of meringue and whipped cream and that they came in a variety of wonderful flavours with elegant names: Le Magnifique – The Magnificent, L’Excentrique – The Eccentric, and L’Impensable – The Unthinkable, to name a few. Oh, and that they were coated in either meringue crystals, chocolate flakes or chopped nuts. What was there not to like about any of that?

I browsed through the six choices on the menu and decided on the cherry-flavoured L’Excentrique. Thinking it wouldn’t travel well, I quickly made my way back to my hotel to enjoy it. And enjoy it I did! It was like biting into a sweet, flavourful cloud. All that was missing was a nice, hot cup of coffee to go along with it.

Chef Frédéric Vaucamps revived these French pastries which were popular at the end of the 1700s, during what is called le Directoire Regime. This was the period just after the French Revolution and before the reign of Napoleon when high society life in France saw a resurgence. In fact, these wonderful treats are named after the young women of the time, les Merveilleuses, who put modesty aside and donned Athenian-style, form-fitting dresses (think Josephine) instead of the previous trend for corsets and voluminous skirts (think Marie-Antoinette). Chef Frédéric perfected his recipe before opening his first Aux Merveilleux de Fred boutique in 1985. According to his website, the secret to his success is a meringue that is unmatched for its fluffiness and lightness. I couldn’t agree more!

Aux Merveilleux de Fred  Eiermarkt 3A, 8000 Bruges