Thursday, February 24, 2011

Layers.....

of cream, pastry, custard, cream, pastry, custard...and so on, and so on! Oh how I love Mille-Feuille ("thousand-leaf")! Have you ever had this amazing dessert? 
My family grew up on these treats from the Victoria Pastry Company in North Beach, San Francisco. They were infamous for their St. Honore cakes which had little rum and cream-filled puff pastries on top of the cake. But my all-time favorites were the Napoleons (mille-feuille). Check out their delicious offerings here. While in Florence on a trip before we had our two girls, my husband and I stumbled into a great little neighborhood restaurant and had their homemade Mille-Feuille. I'll never forget how amazing every bite was! OH what a treat. Please do try one in your lifetime if you have not yet tried one. It is THAT good. : )
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46 comments:

  1. theartofpuroFebruary 24, 2011 at 11:15 AM

    I love it too:)Your illo is so delicious:)

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  2. Ces AdorioFebruary 24, 2011 at 11:20 AM

    Oh wow! The illustration is superb. I can see how delicious it would be. The description is pure torture as the only thing edible around here right now is plain romaine lettuce. This is pure torture! You are killing me. I am drooling!!!

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  3. Sarah MellingFebruary 24, 2011 at 11:41 AM

    I just love this! A delicious pastry a la "Princess and the Pea"...very creative and lovely.

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  4. micheleFebruary 24, 2011 at 11:48 AM

    Mmmm! Your illustration speaks to me, loud and clear! Now I will be obsessed until I find the nearest bakery serving these delectable treats! Hee hee! :o)

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  5. beeFebruary 24, 2011 at 11:56 AM

    Ooooh Shirley you have just illustrated one of my dreams-come true hehe! My mum used to go on and on about Mille-Feuille and I never tried it until last year... man she was right to keep banging on about it coz it was SSSOOOOO delicious! Hmm, I just woke up and now I could so go one for breakfast hahah!

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  6. NicolaFebruary 24, 2011 at 12:11 PM

    Yummo! I've never heard of this before but I'd love to try it! Very cute illustration, looks like she's hugging it heheheh

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  7. Lucy Boden IllustrationFebruary 24, 2011 at 12:19 PM

    YUM! Beautiful illo, Shirley! Delicate and lovely :o)

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  8. Ana M.F.February 24, 2011 at 12:38 PM

    yummy ♥

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  9. AtelierBrigitteFebruary 24, 2011 at 12:41 PM

    It looks yummy, but I haven't had that kind of desert ever.

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  10. BradFebruary 24, 2011 at 1:24 PM

    I have never tried one or heard of it, but if they are half as wonderful as your illustration then i most certainly have to try it!

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  11. rmsmiFebruary 24, 2011 at 1:32 PM

    I haven't heard of them but they sound tasty. Your illustration is really cute!

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  12. Dayle's Painted Diary-Dayle DodwellFebruary 24, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    Yummmm mmm... nothing better that a gooey treat. I love how you see things and express things.

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  13. donny*February 24, 2011 at 2:14 PM

    You had me at cream, pastry, custard, cream, pastry, custard. I've never had one, but by golly, now I have a mission! Oh, and awesome illustration. :)

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  14. UnknownFebruary 24, 2011 at 2:17 PM

    que lindo!!!

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  15. angelsFebruary 24, 2011 at 2:32 PM

    OOhh...! thanks for sharing such a pleasant and sweet Illo...what a pleasure to be lying over this cake!
    Nice watercolors on your blog!

    and thanks for passing by!

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  16. DoodlestreetFebruary 24, 2011 at 3:17 PM

    i'm so hungry now! :D

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  17. Theresa MacNaughtonFebruary 24, 2011 at 3:48 PM

    That sounds SO delicious. I'd probably fall on top of it, too, after eating it. LOL I'll have to find some! Super cute illustration! Theresa

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  18. Art by Andy BauerFebruary 24, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    Totally YUM!!!

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  19. psychopoochFebruary 24, 2011 at 4:28 PM

    That looks heavenly!

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  20. Andrew FinnieFebruary 24, 2011 at 4:48 PM

    Well as soon as Bella leaves Oz I'm on my way to San Francisco :) Shirley, it's great how you have made the girl so small, how she is throwing herself on the thousand leafs - it looks so yummy - and you have captured the feeling so well, of being enraptured by the whole sensation - I must now go and eat my lunch though breakfast is just finished :)

    see you

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  21. Ces AdorioFebruary 24, 2011 at 5:49 PM

    I could eat this right now. The chocolate cake in front of me looks good but I want a thousand leaves, maybe one hundred thousand leaves!!! Next time I go to San Francisco, I am having this. Tsup!

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  22. Bella SinclairFebruary 24, 2011 at 7:13 PM

    GERONIMOOOOOOOOOOO! Move over, Shirley, I'm a-coming in for a dive!

    Oh my goodness, oh my goodness. Nom nom nom nom nom, I LOVE love love love Napoleons! MMMMMMMM. I used to work at a restaurant as a hostess. For hours I had to stand next to their bakery case. Oh. My. Staring at those pastries was torture, but YES, Napoleons were my favorite. Gawd, I want to eat a HUGE one like the one in your most adorable painting!

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  23. Mai KembleFebruary 24, 2011 at 7:36 PM

    hee hee, wish that were my bed, too!
    ;)

    tasty!

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  24. HoracioFebruary 24, 2011 at 8:45 PM

    What a delicious way to lay dawn!!
    Quiero una rebanada!!!

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  25. k.h.whitakerFebruary 24, 2011 at 10:00 PM

    Goodness what a delicious illustration Shirley. I think I want to be that little girl on top! I've never had one of these but I can only imagine the decadent goodness. Super cute!!!

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  26. Michaele RaziFebruary 24, 2011 at 10:42 PM

    Wonderful! So sweet and lovely AND it's exactly how I feel when I see a delicious dessert. It's a fact: You're amazing!

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  27. Kaili IttensohnFebruary 24, 2011 at 11:06 PM

    OH MY.... so cute!!

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  28. Nicky LinzeyFebruary 25, 2011 at 1:30 AM

    Mmm .. I could eat this now. My dad used to buy them for us when we were children and although I've tried making them I can never get the lightness!
    Apologies for my absence here Shirley, my link to you has been going to your post where you say you're having a break, so I thought you still were!!

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  29. Leen ChristensFebruary 25, 2011 at 1:37 AM

    Wonderful and delicious!

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  30. SabFebruary 25, 2011 at 5:33 AM

    ooooh very lovely ! ^_^

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  31. JaneFebruary 25, 2011 at 7:43 AM

    Hmmmm yummy, yes Shirley that is me laying across that dessert, I SO wish they could be that big, I could be lost there for days ;0)That is such a fun illustration, love it!
    Have a great weekend,
    Jane x

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  32. Morph WaffleFebruary 25, 2011 at 8:52 AM

    So super adorable and sounds yummy!

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  33. KristaFebruary 25, 2011 at 12:10 PM

    Awww... is that you in love with such a beautiful dessert?! What a dream!

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  34. MrBibleHeadFebruary 25, 2011 at 9:37 PM

    Hey Shirley! Well I’m going to add Mille Feuille to my bucket list! I hope it is at least half as delicious as your illo this week! Fantastic! What a feeling of utter elation and joy! Thanks for putting this smile on my face tonight.... You’re the best!!!

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  35. SunnyFebruary 25, 2011 at 11:45 PM

    simply sweet and lovely~<3

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  36. Dear FirefliesFebruary 25, 2011 at 11:56 PM

    Oh, that looks like heaven!! French pastries are the best, yes??

    This is so delightfully yummy, Shirley. :) oxx

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  37. Hannah LittletonFebruary 26, 2011 at 1:47 AM

    This is ADORABLE! I want to be her! I love your work! Thought I'd pay a visit as you were kind enough to visit me. You have a new fan!

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  38. Kristin G JacksonFebruary 26, 2011 at 8:48 AM

    I love this illustration - the fluffy pastry, her little feet kicking up behind her, and the content look on her face.

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  39. Ces AdorioFebruary 26, 2011 at 8:24 PM

    OOOOOOOOHHHHH SHIRLEY!!!

    I just remembered I had this in NYC when I had tea with my sister, my daughter and my sister-in-law! OH MY GOODNESS, yes! I just read Bella's comment and when she said Napoleons, YES! I had this. Ooooh! I must go to a bakery tomorrow when my call is over and I have to ask my husband to go tarts and cakes shopping with me! TSUP!

    WHAT THE!!! My word verif is flarkme!

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  40. Vicki SmithFebruary 27, 2011 at 5:24 AM

    This is just soooooooooo adorable!!!!

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  41. Ces AdorioFebruary 27, 2011 at 9:09 AM

    Aaaaaaaawwwww! So sorry to hear you were knocked down by the flu. I am glad you are feeling better. Oh yes to tarts and cakes. My husband and son went grocery shopping for a beef jerky project they are going to do and they asked me if I wanted anything from the grocery store. You know what? I told them to pick up Ding Dongs and Ho Hos. That Bella is so bad for starting something crazy!!!

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  42. Bella SinclairFebruary 27, 2011 at 10:00 AM

    You know, in some areas, if you say 'my husband's going out for some ding dongs and ho ho's,' it has a whole 'nother meaning.

    Also if you say you are shopping for tarts.

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  43. D. LindseyFebruary 27, 2011 at 8:19 PM

    Never heard of this but it sounds and looks absolutely yummy!

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  44. Junko MiyakoshiFebruary 28, 2011 at 7:20 AM

    Mmmm yummy!
    I like your style and warm colors :)

    Cheers,
    Junko

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  45. illustration poetryFebruary 28, 2011 at 1:17 PM

    oh Shirley, i think it's you who is a sweet beautiful person, yes you are.
    look at this illustration, makes me want to grab a slice!

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  46. JuanMarch 1, 2011 at 7:43 AM

    Beautiful illo, Shirley!!!

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