To Market, To Market (Findlay, that is!)

Yesterday, a crisp, clear, sunny Saturday, my friend Ruth and I decided to go on a shopping excursion. First stop was the newly refurbished Findlay Market, a series of food shops and stands in the "Over the Rhine" neighborhood of downtown Cincinnati. I was hoping to introduce Ruth to Divina, the wonderful French pastry chef I wrote of last fall. Unfortunately, in the intervening months, her Divine Delights stand seems to have disappeared. Another French pastries and desserts stand, La Tarterie, has been added, however. Owner/baker Michelle Phan produces gorgeous Apple "Flower", Pear Almond, Lemon Mousse, and Fruit Tarts, along with a most unusual sounding Sweet Potato Tart with Pecan-Cranberry Streusel ($4-$4.50 per serving or $22-32 whole). And chocolate lovers, such as moi, also have a lot to moon over. Although the Flourless Chocolate Raspberry and Chocolate Dream Cakes ($5-6 per serving) were already gone (and this was at only 11:30 in the morning!), there was a heavenly looking little square Black Rose Cake (chocolate cake with pink white chocolate mousse filling and dark chocolate glaze - $5.50 per serving). And, just perfect for a St. Patrick's Day dessert, I spied in the display case some slices of Pandan Cake, a light, chiffon-like cake, usually coloured green with food colouring popular in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and China (only $2.50 serving).

Next stop: Trader Joe's!

La Tarterie
Findlay Market
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Phone: (513)288-7696
Open weekends at Findlay Market and downtown pickup on weekdays. Catering and wholesale available.