‘Picasso of Pastry’ Pierre Hermé brings the decadence of his exquisite treats to the breakfast table. Granola Ispahan (£13/300g) is a reinterpretation of a classic with the elements that make up Hermé’s signature Ispahan pastries and macarons. The crunchy breakfast cereal includes oats, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, puffed rice, grated coconut, pistachios, pecan and almonds, flavoured with honey and rose, dried raspberries and lychees.
Nutella fans will be excited by the Pâte à Tartiner Pietra (£15/200g) – hazelnut praline spread with bits of caramelised hazelnut. Inspired by Herme’s Pietra praline, the smooth pâte à tartiner is punctuated with crunchy praline and has a fruity underscore from the bitter chocolate – perfect for slathering on toasted baguette or brioche.
The Breakfast products are rather decadent for everyday munching (unless you have Marie Antoinette aspirations), but they are a great Sunday morning treat as part of a big brunch or a lazy breakfast in bed.
Pierre Hermé’s Lemon Fetish collection (which makes me want to sing Serge Gainsbourg’s Lemon Incest) brings intense citrus zest to the entire range, including the Infinitement Citron meringue cake, baba cake, cheesecake, millefeuille, chou, emotion, tarte, ice cream, macaron, bonbon de chocolat, waffle, pound cake and biscuits.
Pure lemon is a world apart from the typically wild flavour combinations that we’ve come to expect from Pierre Hermé, but perhaps the secret is in simplicity.
Breakfast and Lemon Fetish collections are available now at all Pierre Hermé stores and online at www.pierreherme.com