[elliecake]

Will be in London and Ireland for a biking tour. Will have some time to tour and I would love to see gorgeous pastry shops and bakeries so that I can collect ideas for my own baking madness. I would especially love to see the tiny little petit fours that are served at high tea in London - but preferably in a bakery that makes such specialties. What places must I see? Please help!

Thank you!
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Thank you,
Ellie

[helen (mrs fields)]

Hi elliecake,

Here are some suggestions for pastry places in Ireland. I have also included some notes on some favorite local confectionery that although not strictly pastry are worth trying. Looking foward to seeing your opinions and food finds when you get there.

Avoca (Throughout Ireland)
This is a very popular small chain of cafes and craft shops. They are located in Dublin and scenic areas throughout the country. They are noted for their fresh breads, desserts, and pastries (traditional comfort food with a modern twist). They have published two cookbooks. I made the Chocolate Orange Cake from The Avoca Cafe Cookbook and it is really good. If you go there I recommend trying Apple Tart and Bakewell Tart. They are scrumptious.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakewell_tart
The Avoca Cafe Cookbook - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/095381520X/ref=pd_bxgy_img_b/002-7129126-1013607?ie=UTF8
Avoca Homepage - http://www.avoca.ie/index1.php

Banofee Pie
Another local favorite you should look out for is Banofee Pie.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banoffee_pie
Many people make this at home. One of the fun aspects of the recipe is boiling a can of condensed milk for a few hours to turn it into toffee. I love the pyrotechnics of this operation. Some people boil many cans at once and store them in the fridge for a few weeks. I think a similar product in the U.S is a can of Dulce de Leche and it requires no dangerous boiling for hours. Banoffee is the top selling dessert in many places. One of the other major components is fresh whipped dairy cream. In most establishments in Ireland and I imagine the U.K cream from a can is unheard of. Fresh cream is really good there.

Triple 99 Ice Cream Cone
Speaking of fresh cream leads me to ice cream. Many small newspaper and grocery shops in Ireland sell a "99 Ice Cream Cone". Any of my American friends who have traveled to Ireland have raved about this. On rare hot days I have seen queues of up to 50 people or more waiting in line to buy one of these. Don't buy the prepackaged ones in the freezer. Go to a shop where they make them from the machine. Watch out for a gaudy plastic ice cream cone hanging over the door of grocery shop or newsagents. This is a sign that they have the machine for making them. One of the best parts is eating the Cadburys Flake which is inserted in the ice cream. By the way, these things can be huge. A triple 99 can have about 7 inches high of ice cream in a cone. This in my opinion would be a perfect treat at the end of a long bike ride.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/99_Flake

Goyas (Galway)
Located in Galway. I had a tiramisu here about 12 years ago. It was presented on a paper lace napkin, perfect texture, and tasted of real rum, espresso, and good dark chocolate.
http://goyas.ie/

Kilkenny - (Throughout Ireland)
Located throughout the country and similar to Avoca. For some reason their site map is not showing their store located in the stables of Kilkenny Castle. Maybe it is under different ownership?
http://www.kilkennyshop.com/shops_rest/index.htm

If you are on a biking tour I can recommend a stop in Kilkenny one of Irelands oldest medieval towns. There are tours of the castle which is one of the most spectacular in Ireland.
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/HistoricSites/East/KilkennyCastleKilkenny/

Rock of Cashel, Co. Tipperary
Massive Romanesque church. Located in Co. Tipperary.
http://www.comhaltas.com/bru/Cashel.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_of_Cashel

If go to Cashel you might try Chez Hans Cafe. I have not been there (yet) but it gets good reviews.

http://www.ireland-guide.com/establishment/chez_hans.3991.html

[tea leaves]

Hi there
Can't speak for London but have spent much time in Ireland. In Galway
try the Galway Baking Company at the corner of Eyre Square, the Great Southern serves a great tea that might feature petit fours. If you are in the West and find yourself in Maam Cross (the Galway Clifden road) try the apple tarte. Kinsale in the south has amazing food and pastries, and let's have a moment of silence for Bewleys' Oriental on Grafton Street in Dublin. Sigh. Now that was pastry....
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"Nobody can teach you how to make the perfect cup of tea. It just happens over time. Wearing cashmere helps of course."

[chochotte]

GO GO GO to Macaron in Clapham, slightly south-west of central London. This review tells you why:
http://www.timeout.com/london/bars/reviews/8887.html

Also it's worth going to the Ladurée bit in the Harrods food hall: obviously more French than British but there's no better petit-four, surely, than a Ladurée macaron?

If you actually want to go to afternoon tea than may I suggest Prêt-à-Portea at The Berkley for something a little bit different?
http://www.the-berkeley.co.uk/Restaurants_and_bars/restaurants/The_Caramel_Room/the_caramel_room/

I could go on, but I'll restrain myself.

[champ]

Here is another place you might be able to take in on your biking tour -

http://www.ballymaloecountryrelish.ie/ballymaloe.htm

Ballymaloe has featured in many tv series in Ireland.

What areas are you hoping to take in on your tour? I have recently returned from a trip over to Donegal, and here is a wonderful spot on St. John's Point which is a 'hidden gem' -

http://www.castlemurray.com/site/index.aspx

Will post further suggestions if they come into my head! Enjoy your trip!
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Yesterday is history...
Tomorrow's a mystery...
Today is a gift...
That's why they call it the present ....

[Richard Leader]

In London, it absolutely has to be Patisserie Valerie on Old Compton Street. No argument