I Sampled 7 Crème Brûlée Dishes in Paris

Bonjour from Paris! Josh and I just returned from a truly magical trip to the City of Lights, and let me tell you, it was a culinary adventure of epic proportions. While we savored everything from truffle-infused delights to hot frites to buttery escargot, there was one dessert that truly stole the show: crème brûlée.

Enjoying our lovely balcony at the C.O.Q. Hotel near the Place de Italie on Rue Eduoard Manet. We've stayed at this lovely boutique property on 3 different trips to Paris!

For those of you who know Josh, you know he has a serious sweet tooth (ask him about Cheat Day Saturdays sometime). And crème brûlée is his absolute go-to whenever we sit down for a meal in France. So, naturally, we turned our Parisian vacation into a full-blown crème brûlée tasting tour. Over the course of our stay, Josh sampled a whopping SEVEN different crème brûlées! Each one was unique, showcasing the subtle variations in flavor and texture that make this dessert so beloved.

Here are the 7 Locations Where We Enjoyed Crème Brûlée

1. Santorini Restaurant - 25 Rue de la Harpe, 75005 Paris, France

2. L'Entracte des Gobelins - 75 Av. des Gobelins, 75013 Paris, France

3. Au Clairon des Chasseurs - 3 Pl. du Tertre, 75018 Paris, France

4. Le Sarah Bernhart - 2 Pl. du Châtelet, 75004 Paris, France

5. La Maison du Verlaine - 39 Rue Descartes, 75005 Paris, France

6. L'Escurial - 29 Rue de Turenne, 75003 Paris, France

7. Un Jour de'Peyrassol - 13 Rue Vivienne 75002 Paris

Despite being very similar with their crusted sugary tops, our favorite was from L'Entracte des Gobelins, a casual brasserie in the 5th arrondissement. The hardened shell was warm and the sugar perfectly burnt. It was infused with vanilla bean flecks you could see and taste. But beyond just enjoying the creamy custard and caramelized sugar, we also delved into the fascinating history of this classic French treat.

Here's our favorite crème brûlée dish from our entire time in Paris. You can enjoy the crème brûlée maison à la vanille for just €7.50 at L'Entracte des Gobelins in the 5th arrondissement of Paris.

A Bit of Crème Brûlée History:

• Origins: While its exact origins are debated, crème brûlée is widely believed to have originated in the 17th century. Some credit the Duke of Orléans' chef, while others point to a recipe in François Massialot's 1691 cookbook, "Le Cuisinier royal et bourgeois."

• "Burnt Cream": The name "crème brûlée" literally translates to "burnt cream," referring to the hard caramel layer that tops the custard. We only just found this out!

• Cambridge Cream? In England, a similar dessert called "Cambridge cream" was popular at Trinity College, Cambridge, in the 17th century, adding to the debate about its true origins.

• The "Iron": Historically, the caramel crust was often created using a hot iron, rather than the modern blowtorch. I actually added a blowtorch to our wedding registry, but haven't used it for crème brûlée just yet...

Fun Crème Brûlée Factoids:

• Did you know that the sound of cracking the caramel crust is a key part of the crème brûlée experience? It's even been studied scientifically! I love listening to the crackle!

• Crème brûlée can be flavored with a variety of ingredients, from vanilla and chocolate to lavender and even Earl Grey tea.

• In the movie "Amélie," the protagonist's love of crème brûlée is a recurring theme, further cementing its status as a French culinary icon.

The satisfying "crunch" of breaking into a crème brûlée has been studied by scientists!

Our Parisian crème brûlée adventure was a delicious reminder of the simple pleasures in life. It's amazing how a single dessert can have such a rich history and evoke so much joy.

If you're ever in Paris, I highly recommend embarking on your own crème brûlée tasting tour. You won't be disappointed!