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Nice et Clafouti Encore

Jul 1 by Anita 13 Comments

Cherry Clafouti on dessertfirstgirl.com

Now, I try not to repeat recipes on this site, even if there are some filed-away-by-heart recipes that I make over and over again just for myself (World Peace Cookies, I’m looking at you). However, once you read through my day trip to Monte Carlo and Nice I hope you’ll see just why I had to revisit this clafouti recipe.

Monte Carlo Street

The second stop of our cruise, and our only French-speaking stop, was Monte Carlo. Above, the chic streets of Monte Carlo – and the stunning views behind. It actually rained right before we arrived – the only day of the trip where it wasn’t perfect-postcard-blue. Monte Carlo is chic, no two ways about it. As we had little desire (or financial means) to spend the day in luxury boutiques or gambling at the casino, we took a winding, hour-and-half bus ride to the beaches of Nice, France.

Nice, France

Nice looks exactly you’d imagine a French resort town would – casual yet cosmopolitan at the same time. The elegantly maintained buildings and its seaside location reminded me a great deal of the city of Koriko in Kiki’s Delivery Service, one of my all-time favorite movies.

Dog in Nice

Of course even the dogs are chic in France.

Lac Patisserie Nice

It would have been impossible to leave France without finding at least one pâtisserie; in this case, we stumbled onto Pâtisserie Lac, a perfect little jewel box of immaculately crafted confections. I would have liked to have sample them all, but the price tag above should give you an indication of why I couldn’t.

Lac Patisserie Cake

Whenever I see redcurrants it always says French to me.

Lac Patisserie Macarons

Some very vibrant macarons. They were selling less-than-perfect, slightly smushed macs at the counter for half price. I’m not too proud to say I took advantage of the offer and they tasted just fine.

La Merenda Nice

Our only chance to get a real French meal. We lunched at a little bistro just a couple blocks from the ocean, called La Merenda with a satisfyingly non-touristy menu.

Courgette Beignets

Beignets de fleurs de courgettes – fried zucchini flowers, a specialty of the region.  Soo good.

Daube de boeuf

Daube de boeuf a la Provencale – beef stew, served over a mustard-y polenta.  We could have eaten bowls of this.

Black Cherry Clafouti

What more appropriate ending to a casual lunch than a slice of clafouti, choc-a-bloc with unpitted black cherries? Everything was made in a tiny little open kitchen at the back of the 15-seat restaurant by the husband/chef-owner while madame ran the register.

Nice Beach

Afterwards we took a stroll along the famous seafront of Nice. It was a little overcast for sunbathing but a beautiful view nonetheless.

Crystallized Violets

The streets right behind the beach are pleasantly narrow and twisty, filled with all manner of stores selling the typical tourist trinkets, ice cream, and some truly lovely local goods. There were crystallized violets for sale in this tiny store- you can also see crystallized mint in the background. I am also in calligraphic envy at the little handwritten signs – le sigh!

Sea Salts

A sea salt vendor. I had to stand and just admire the sheer gorgeousness of the colors.

Monte Carlo skyline

Back in Monte Carlo, a view of the town against the mountains. Right in the center of the picture you can see the famous casino. No, we did not pay 15 euro entry fee to enter the casino proper – we weren’t properly attired, anyway.

Monte Carlo Casino

Right behind me you can see the casino again. What looks like scaffolding in front of it is actually the back of temporary bleachers erected for the Grand Prix. We arrived the day after the races ended, but all the roadblocks and viewing stands were still up, making it tricky to maneuver around. They really do turn the entire town into a giant race course!

Fine Cheeses

Menu from one of the many fancy restaurants we passed by. I thought this was really funny – the cheese descriptors consisting entirely of animal species.

Nice Harbor

Another view of the Monte Carlo. Definitely one of the prettiest ports we sailed into. Also note the abundance of luxury yachts.

Black Cherries

So! Having eaten authentic clafouti in Nice, it was difficult to think of what could be a more appropriate recipe to share in this post than…clafouti. Even though I’ve made it before. But you know, every time you make something again, you hopefully learn something new – a refinement of technique, perhaps, or a twist of ingredients for a different slant. What I learned about clafouti was that by definition it contains cherries. So saying cherry clafouti is actually redundant. You know the French: if there’s anywhere they value exacting precision, it’s in gastronomy. A word defines a dish, down to origin, ingredient, technique. A clafouti, precisely, is a cake made of a custard batter poured over cherries. Traditionally, the cherries should be unpitted, as they impart additional flavor to the dessert.

Of course, today, there are variations upon variations of clafouti, using all sorts of fruits, with and without crusts, from creamy and just-set to firm and cakelike. Bonus French lesson: if it’s a clafouti made with fruit other than cherries, it’s called a flognarde. As I said, the French have seemingly invented a word for every dish they’ve made.

I chose to tweak my favorite clafouti recipe: I’ve tried a couple versions, and I prefer using creme fraiche in mine, which gives a more robust richness and pleasant tang to offset the burstingly ripe cherries. I pit my cherries, but if you leave yours in, do be sure to warn your dinner guests! I also took a hint from Jen and added a layer of almonds on top. In addition, I liberally sugared the baking dishes and the tops of of the clafoutis, which gave them a nice crunchy crust right out of the oven. I like my clafouti cooled down but still warm – no whipped cream necessary.

We would have loved to have stayed more than a day in France – a return visit seems in order, in the near future!

Cherry Clafouti on dessertfirstgirl.com

(Cherry) Clafouti

makes one 9-in clafouti or (8) 2 1/2-in ramekins
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  • 3 large eggs
  • 8 tablespoons (100 g) sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
  • 1 cup (240 g) crème fraîche
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • 1 teaspoon kirsch
  • 11 ounces (330 g) cherries, pitted (you may need fewer cherries if you make individual clafoutis depending on how many you can fit in the ramekins)
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter and sugar a 9-in baking dish or pie plate, or individual ramekins, and place on a baking sheet.
  • Whisk the eggs together in a mixing bowl.
  • Add in the sugar and whisk to combine.
  • Add in the crème fraîche and whisk just until incorporated.
  • Whisk in the vanilla bean paste and kirsch.
  • Place the cherries in the prepared dish or divide equally among the ramekins.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan(s).
  • Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes. Take out and sprinkle the almonds over the top, then sprinkle with more sugar.
  • Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, until the tops are golden and puffed and the centers are set.
  • Let clafouti cool for about 15 minutes out of the oven before serving. You can also serve at room temperature – it will keep for about 12 hours.

Filed Under: Cakes, Europe, Fruit, Personal, Recipes, Travel Tagged With: cherries, clafouti, Europe, france, honeymoon, monte carlo, nice, travel

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Comments

  1. 1

    Maureen says

    Jul 1 at 12:46 am

    I love this post. I want to get on a plane and follow you around. That box of macarons is calling my name. 🙂

    Reply
  2. 2

    Belinda @zomppa says

    Jul 1 at 3:08 am

    What romantic and beautiful photos – and a stunning dessert to boot!

    Reply
  3. 3

    martina says

    Jul 1 at 5:00 am

    I suppose it’s not so important… but Monte Carlo is a city-state, the Principality of Monaco. They’re are not French (strictly speaking). 🙂
    Martina

    Reply
    • 4

      Anita says

      Jul 1 at 8:31 am

      Of course you’re right, Martina! I’ve edited the wording slightly in the post. Thanks for the reminder – I guess geography lessons taken on vacation don’t stick very well!

      Reply
  4. 5

    Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal says

    Jul 1 at 10:40 am

    wow, those are some amazing and delicious pictures 🙂

    Reply
  5. 6

    jess☆ @ Multicultural Melbourne says

    Jul 1 at 5:52 pm

    Wow the colours of the sea salt are incredible… what gorgeous photos and the recipe looks amazing too!

    Reply
  6. 7

    Erika says

    Jul 1 at 10:55 pm

    Great pictures, so us more.. time to go travel

    Reply
  7. 8

    Avril Barry says

    Jul 2 at 1:36 am

    Hi, the clafoutis looks great! I’m going to Nice in 3 weeks and I was just wondering if you remember where that salt vendor is as it would be an excellent present for my mum? Thank you!

    Reply
  8. 9

    Alejandra @ Mouthfuls and Morsels says

    Jul 3 at 10:38 am

    oh, that array of sea salt looks amazing!! And I absolutely love the polka-dot fabric 😉

    Reply
  9. 10

    Kristin says

    Jul 25 at 12:54 pm

    So I just saw the movie “Remember Me” and you title reminded me of it and drew me in. (Cheesey, I know …) Looks like you are having an incredible summer!

    Reply
  10. 11

    Audrey says

    Jul 26 at 3:27 pm

    I love anything with cherries. I didn’t know clafouti only applied to cherries but then why would I want it with any other type of fruit? I didn’t realize this would be so easy to make.

    Reply
  11. 12

    Saee Koranne-Khandekar says

    Aug 12 at 2:42 am

    Lovely pictures, as usual!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Snapshots from Old Town, Nice - Dessert First says:
    Aug 14 at 11:15 am

    […] Italy, my family and I also made a quick stop in France. We went to Nice, which I’d also visited eight years ago, and to Aix-en-Provence.  I’m sharing a few of my favorite snapshots from our day in Old […]

    Reply

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about pastrygirl

Anita Chu, also known as pastrygirl, is a baker, writer, and photographer with a passion for pastry. She trained at Tante Marie's Cooking School and is the author of Field Guide to Cookies, Field Guide to Candy, and Lollipop Love. Anita lives in San Francisco with her husband, baby girl, and rescue cockapoo Snickerdoodle. More about pastrygirl

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