Last October, I wrote of Le Choux cookies. Finally, I ventured deep into London’s Ladbroke Grove to sample its wares in person. The shop was less display than I had imagined and more bakery (a good sign, of course). There were Paris-Brests (small and big cake size version, hello birthday coming up) and éclairs that looked world-class.
But I was here for one thing and one thing only: the choux buns. Because I am a chocolate correspondent I had to feature heavily on the chocolate versions: milk chocolate, tiramisu (this also counts as chocolate), chocolate and hazelnut, and white chocolate and the nut of the moment, pistachio.
Le Choux’s little choux buns have a crackle outer (craquelin) to keep them crisp on the outside and counter the soft creamy innards – they are absolutely filled to the brim. Each bun is round and a mouthful. How you eat it is up to you. I recommend downing in two bites, the first bite breaching the craquelin to marvel at its tummy contents, the second to finish it off.
There’s one with a milk chocolate cream filling and a chocolate button on the top. The tiramisu bun has a coffee mascarpone filling and a sprinkling of chocolate – be warned, these have a strong coffee flavour.
Chocolate and hazelnut has a very rich filling, but the real hit – and again this was a surprise – was the white chocolate and pistachio choux bun filled with a creamy white chocolate and pistachio paste and topped with a white chocolate disc and a sprinkling of more pistachios. This was a flavour bomb. As much as I hate that phrase, it’s apt here. Prices start at £16.50 for six.
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