It seems that we’re out of luck today when we walk into La Gerbe D’Or, Paddington. The chef de partie has just left so we can’t get any cooked food, only what is in the display cases. Owner for 24 years Frank Francois is also missing in action. Ok so out of luck is probably incorrect. I’m still looking at some delicious quiches and pies as well as rillettes and terrines, baguettes and cakes galore. I’m lunching today with Teena and baby Annabel Ines who has decided to be an angel and sleep.
It’s swelteringly hot inside even with the gigantic fan being deceptively ineffective so we brave the relative coolness of the outside chairs with a semblance of a breeze. We order some of the Terrine de Canard (Duck Terrine), Rillette du Porc (pork rillette) with some baguette slices and a Pissaladiere. We’d decide on sweets a bit later.
Platter $17.90
The Rillette du Porc is delicious, a mildly flavoured soft mix of shredded pork meat and melting fat and is a pleasure to spread on the fresh baguette. The Terrine de Canard is strongly flavoured with dark duck meat with a cognac flavour to it. Both are delicious and I can imagine buying slices of both to take home.
Pissaladiere $5.70
The Pissaladiere has seen better days. The pastry is chewy and has separated into two layers. We only taste anchovy in one bite and despite the burnt appearance of the topping, the occasional olive and caramelised onion pieces are quite tasty.
We order sweets, just a single pistachio macaron (just to try) as we’re also ordering a slice of the gigantic St Tropez cake (LaTarte Tropézienne) and for good measure, a petit four sized piece of Mille Feuille.
St Tropez $5.70 and pistachio macaron $3.00
The LaTarte Tropézienne, described by some as a giant custard hamburger (a term that would probably horrify many), is enormous measuring about 25-30cms from end to end. The bread is a sweet brioche and the custard is a similar thick custard, much like the Mille Feuille custard and it is dusted with icing sugar. It’s fresh and soft and despite our fullness and the size we make good headway into this.
Sideways look at the St Tropez
The pistachio macaron is another matter though. Dry as the desert and bereft of anything but the lightest smear of filling it barely resembles a macaron. Teena and I are both seasoned macaron eaters and this is pushed away after one bite.
Petit Four sized Mille Feuille $5.70
The petit four size Mille Feuille is delicious, the oozey soft custard and crisp pastry and sweet icing combining perfectly as Mille Feuille does when done right. It’s a bit on the expensive side considering it’s a third or half the size of a regular Mille Feuille although I wonder if the Macaron was $5.70 instead? Surely not.
Perhaps it’s because the owner is away, but I am always willing to go back in the name of research.
Certificates
La Gerbe D’or
255 Glenmore Road, Five Ways, Paddington, NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 9331 1070
Open 7 days
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21 Comments | Add your own
the St Tropez is enormous! the poor macaron looks so tiny next to it. (pity about the macaron, by the way, it’s so disappointing to be anticipating greatness and then… nothing!)
My dieter’s eye is immediately drawn to the patisserie. The eclairs look amazing—so glossy! What a shame about that macaron, though. They should never be dry and dusty.
BTW, I have nominated you for an award over at my blog: http://www.aspoonfulofsugar.net/wp/2009/02/roasted-squash-dolcelatte-wrap/
Lorraine, sorry I’m reading a French post
This is in Paris?? No, it’s in Australia!
What a wonderful tasty and pretty desserts!!
I hope they make deliveries to Uruguay
All the best!
Gera
I live near here and the st tropez looks so nice in the window. I agree the macaroons are really, really dry. They shouldn’t sell them until they get them right.
This looks so delightfully Francais! The pates and rillettes look v. delish.
i need to eat the LaTarte Tropézienne….yarrrm
The St Tropez looks magnificent. I’m such a sweet tooth, custard gets me over pate anyday.
Ohhh… the pastries look so yummy.. pity about the macaroons
a word of warning, the macarons from T2 are tasteless and not at all a macaron. Soft and spongey like water soaked sponge, don’t bother wasting money on it…
The eclairs look fantastic. I had a bad macaron today at Adora chocolates – what a travesty. Adora is great otherwise.
I have a healthy appetite for pates of all types and the rillette looks to die for! Such a simple pleasure is smearing pate on slices of french stick.
As for the St Tropez, I would like to sink my teeth into that very soon. I also think that u should go back, if only in the name of research, and on your way out let us know what the eclairs are like. They look like the ones I had in Europe. Smaller and thinner than the Australian ones but the custardy filling is damn addictive
Hi shez-Yes it was so huge! There was no way even the two of us could finish it. I know, bad macarons made me so sad and disappointed
Hi Angela-We liked everything but the macaron but of course for me, the macaron is the most important! Oh thankyou so much sweetie, I feel so honoured!
Hi Gera-I know, it’s very French looking isn’t it! Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Aubrey-Ahh ok, we were wondering if it was a one off. I agree, don’t sell them if they’re not good!
Hi Brianna-Definitely so, it’s such a pretty place
I could have some more of the pate and rillettes now…
Hi reddoorred-I agree, it’s very good in that way that only gigantic custard filled brioche can be!
Hi Arwen-Hehe as for me I’d like to take both!
Hi foodie-central-The pastries were very good and my friends bought me a birthday cake from there which was also really delicious
Hi obsessed-Ahh ok, thanks for the warning. I get so upset when a macaron isn’t good and conversely so happy when I have a good macaron!
Hi Belinda-Oh no! It seems like an epidemic! So many bad macarons around…
Hi Maria-Yes such simple pleasures in life!
Haha well I am always up for a repeat visit although eclairs aren’t usually my pastry of choice. I think there’s something obviously wrong with me 
Oooh macarons! A friend went to Paris last weekend and brought back macarons from Pierre Herme and Laduree… they’re so amazing! x
One of these days I’m going to fly down there just to eat with you.
OMG – French pastries – I am in heaven! Thanks goodness it is way too far for me to get to easily, otherwise Lord help my waistline.
a giant custard hamburger? no, that doesn’t horrify me–it elates me.
I have had the same experience at Gerbe D’Or. Pricey, and they don’t quite nail it.
Hi Su-yin-Oh you are SO lucky! If only I had them a short plane ride away *sigh*
Hi Blond Duck-You should! Sydney is definitely a city with every country covered
Hi Cakelaw-hehe yes it is rather tempting when they’re all in front of you!
Hi grace-Very cool! And this is why we heart you!
Hi Suzie-Yes the macaron, I better not dwell on it as it makes me sad
Has this changed hands? The last few times i’ve been there has been no Edith Piaf blasting through the speakers, no delightful french service, and the pastries are looking a tad tired. Those macarons especially varied greatly in size.
My daughter is tripping around Paris and Laduree macaroons are high on her “bucketlist” as she had MANY during our month vacation in Springtime 2008. I am so glad my DNA and love of all things French run in her veins, because I can gush about all things French (aka Baba in Forrest Gump with shrimp hehe). If only one of our French chefs residing in Australia could reproduce this culinary piece of genius.. I would be in heaven!
BTW: are we allowed to bring Laduree macaroons back into to Australia or forced to eat them all at the airport? Such a hardship mmmm.
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