Birthday Cake in 7eme- Patisserie?

I don't know if this helps, but I have NEVER had a bad pastry/cake/tarte/cookie/napoleon/eclair or loaf of bread from a French bakery. Chocolate cake is "gateux chocolat" Go early in the day, when the selection is best. There are patisseries all over Paris. My experince was that most counter help spoke some English, and my bad French with lots of pointing worked fine. I don't know if they would write Bon Anniversaire on the cake. You might be better off just picking out a selection of pastries. Don't forget to ask for "Forchette plastique et serviettes. (plastic forks and napkins). You might want to pack you own birthday candles.

Hi Nancy--I know people say that rue Cler is becoming too touristy, but there is a beautiful patisserie there; I mention it because you are in the neighborhood. The name escapes me right now, but it's on the east side of the street. They have beautiful prepared cakes, but be prepared to pay a lot of money--30+ euro--for one. They're exquisite! Unless there is something very specific you want, you don't need to order ahead but instead can select one from their case.

There are not quite a zillion patisseries near where you are staying, and most of them will speak enough English to communicate your order (sometimes taking a note pad and writing will help). If you can muster up a few words of French, such as "Le gâteau riche de chocolat pour mon anniversaire de fils," so much the better!

No need to order before you get there, scout out the patisseries in your neighborhood when you arrive, pick the one that has the closest to what you are looking for, or that you are comfortable communicating with, and order the day before.

Rich chocolate is not going to be a problem!

Thanks all! Good to know this should be easy...not to mention delicious. Thanks for the French words also; very helpful.

Here's my advice for finding good patisserie in Paris... throw a rock. You're bound to find a good one close to where the rock lands!

Keep in mind I am answering from a professional chef/pastry chefs perspective and therefore have higher standards. Yes, it is possible, very, to get bad food and pastries in Paris, not to mention different from what you expect. But there are plenty of good options too.

1. Poujaran is no longer in business, while once I believed he had the best pastries in the world I trekked all the way over there last month only to find that he only does wholesale bread. We ended up buying pastries from Stéphane Secco (before we realized it wasn't Poujaran) and through away our croissants without finishing them and was unimpressed by thier little cakes (dry, overbaked). Not to mention EXPENSIVE!

2. You are going to need to decide on how much you want to spend a 1/4 sheet (10 ish people) can run you 70-80E from a good patissierie. And go to a patisserie not a boulangerie. While most boul. have a pastry chef on residence you never know, my expereince has been most french "bakeries" either are really good at bread or really good at pastries. (Poujaran was an exception, and there are others.)

1. What do you define as odd flavors! It is going to be hard to find a simple chocolate cake, Most french pastries are composed of several layers of either cake, mousse, dacqiouse, ganache, Chocolate could be the base flavor but with layers of fruit, coffee liquor, caramel etc.. If it is a really strong flavor it will be marked in the title.

2. It will be hard to find a birthday cake like you would find in the US. Birthdays have only recently been celebrated with much in France. Saying that when i was a private chef in France I frequently ordered names and messages in English, French, German, Russian etc to be written on the cake. Plan on about 3 days advance and prepare to ask around, It will be more of an adult cake, decorated like a traditional pastry with a name or message written on it.

3. I would be really suprised if a pastry shop had forks and plates to give you and I would distrust the quality if they did. It just isn't part of the French culture, so unless they are pandering to american tourists I would try to look for those things in a grocery store. (Though they might be hard to find plastic ware is not really part of the French culture)

You might just think about getting a selection of individual desserts and have sort of tasting buffet. That way you can try several different flavors and don't need to worry about serving ware.

I wish I could reccomend a place but I am all about wandering around and just finding a place that feels right. My favorite in the city is Sthorers but not sure if they do special orders.

Have fun!

Tronto-
Thanks so much that was very helpful! I’m not looking for a typical US birthday cake, but something memorable to go along with a pastry class he’ll be taking on his birthday (surprising him with a short class at Ritz Escoffier- he loves to bake). All the types you mentioned would be wonderful: mousee, dacqiouse (nut meringue?), ganache, fruit, carmel…but maybe not a stong liquor, unless it’s fruit or chocolate? I’m expecting layers of interesting flavors, but I just didn’t want to get a flavor I wasn’t expecting and that the kids might not eat (ie. anise, or a strong liquor might be too much for the kids). I wasn’t expecting writing (but maybe I’ll ask since you say it’s possible), and no plastic forks- we have an apartment. There are only 6 of us, so I don’t need anything very big, and I was hoping to get something for about 50 euros ($80), but that doesn’t sound possible? Maybe we’ll have to do a small assortment. Thanks again.

I know this is off point, but we've been to many wonderful pattisserie's in Paris that happily gave us small plastic spoons. And 2 of the Monoprix grocery stores we went to in Paris (Marais & La Motte Picquet metro stop) had packages of plastic spoons, knives and forks.

Perhaps Trotro has been out of town for awhile...but plastic and paper plates, utensils are available in all supermarkets, small and large....plus pre-made marzipan signs with Joyeux Anniversaire....You won't go terribly wrong at most bakeries.. A lovely 8 inch square Opera would be my choice for chocolate without "weird".
Today is the 18 1/2 birthday of my son..but he's in California...Lucky you to be celebrating together the 18th

Yes, do check the wesite of....STOHRER....i went there recently...staff totally used to tourists and very kind. Small but famous shop. Their pastries are on the postcards at the airport and elswhere. Could be a tastey souvenir

"marzipan signs with Joyeux Anniversaire" Oooo! Fun! I'll have to look for one! I've been drooling over the Stohrer site...Baba Rhum....yum!