Growing up, my family had a lot of fruit trees in our back yard. We had an apple tree, a pear tree, a peach tree and even a red-currant bush. But, maybe the most special fruit tree of them all was the apricot tree. So, by late summer, we’d have baskets filled with tiny apricots, which the bees and wasps truly loved.
And maybe that’s why the apricot has always been a favourite, for me. This week, I found the Edmonton location of Les Moulins La Fayette, part of the boutique Quebec-based bakery chain, on Calgary Trail, a stone’s throw from the Whitemud. And, as I looked through the glass at bread loaves, croissants and various squares and cakes, the Apricot Delight caught my eye.
Three apricots sat in a bed of flaky pastry, like three golden eggs. In fact, if you saw it from a distance, you’d be fooled into thinking this was some kind of egg tart. But this was a real treat — the pastry was perfect; flaky, but not dry. It was buttery. And there was a delicate sweet glaze that added, but didn’t take away from the fruit or the flake. Served warm, this was a really wonderfully executed treat.
It’s nice to see that there’s a hint of Parisian baking skill near the on-ramp to the Whitemud. After all, we could all use a little more Paris on Calgary Trail.
Les Moulins La Fayette
Empire Park | 4420 Calgary Trail NW, Edmonton | 825.203.9320 | lesmoulinslafayette.com
