written by: Derek Deitsch
The petit gateau is becoming one of the most sought-after desserts in the culinary world. Translated from French, the phrase literally means “little cake.” While this name may suggest a simple dessert, the petit gateau is nothing like your everyday cupcake.
Romina Rasmussen, owner and head pastry chef of Les Madeleines, explains that the petit gateau is a “deceptively complex” dessert. Cut in to one of her delicate desserts and you’ll instantly discover that hidden complexity.
Most likely derived from the larger entremets, the petit gateau features a variety of components. A combination of textures and flavors form a unique yet cohesive dessert. Though traditionally using chocolate as the primary flavor, petits gateaux now commonly feature bold fruit flavors with bright colors. The possibilities are limited only by the imagination of the cake creator.
The featured flavors for March and April at Les Madeleines perfectly showcase that exuberance. Take a look below at how Rasmussen develops her recipes:
Varying layers need time to set, so it often takes eight hours or more just to finish a single cake.
In developing her petit gateau recipes, Rasmussen considers presentation as much as flavor. Notice the interesting shapes and designs inside and out made from the cake’s taste elements.
A firm believer in using fresh ingredients, Rasmussen incorporates seasonal produce in her petit gateau flavors.
With pineapple, mango, passion fruit, coconut and vanilla, the March petit gateau may sound like a tropical overload, but Rasmussen has a magical way of melding the elements together into a refreshing flavor
Two tangy variations of Meyer lemon and three blueberry elements are balanced by ginger sponge cake, providing a bold sensation in the April petit gateau without overwhelming the taste buds.
