Good news for tradition-lovers (or dessert-lovers… or both): it’s now easy to find a good bûche de Noël in Texas, thanks to Frenchly’s list of where to find them! There’s no way we’re missing out, and you shouldn’t either. Here’s our annual selection:
In San Antonio:
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La Boulangerie is one of the best places in the city to find French pastries and viennoiseries in San Antonio. The shop, run by Sylvie Nykiel, of course offers bûches. Four kinds are on the menu this year: vanilla caramel pecan and crushed praline, coconut mango passionfruit and Breton shortbread, raspberry almond and financier, as well as chocolate. Available from Dec. 10 – 31, serves 4-8 ($6 per serving). Order at least 48 heures in advance. — 207 Broadway St. (210-639-3165)
In Houston:
We don’t have to tell you about the Patisserie Paris Je t’aime, already well known for its desserts and masterful pastries. Each year pastry chef Nga Rogers, trained at the Lenotre school in France, offers true works of art for Christmas. Like every year, she’s offering bûche in four varieties: Sparkle (dark chocolate, champagne Zabaione, and pears poached in champagne), Mont Blanc (chestnut whiskey cream with a blackcurrant center, meringues and chestnut mousse), Feuilles Dansantes (dark chocolate, apricot cream, rosemary, and apricot liqueur), and Déesse (saffron caramel cream, sticky caramel and calamondin, almond nougat, and milk chocolate mousse). One bûche serves 10 ($70). Available by order only, one week in advance. Available until the end of Dec. — 11660 Westheimer Rd, Ste 107A. (281-531-1222)
At French Gourmet Bakery, bûche is offered in four varieties: chocolate mousse, white chocolate mousse, moka and rum, and hazelnut. All are accompanied by classic mushroom-shaped meringues. Available from Dec. 14-23, in two sizes: serves 12-15 ($59.99), or serves 15-18 ($69.99). — 2250 Westheimer Road. (713-524-3744)
At Julies French Pastries, the pastry-shop and café of Normand Julie Clemenceau, you have the choice between three flavors: Dark Delight (vanilla sponge cake, chocolate mousseline, vanilla creme brûlée, dark mirror glaze), Fruit Delight (vanilla sponge cake, mango mousse, seedless raspberry preserve, mango glaze), and Nuts Delight (almond sponge cake, light chocolate mousse, hazelnut cream, caramel cream, roasted hazelnuts and pecans). One bûche serves 6 ($29) or 12 ($55). Available to order until Dec. 22. — 14522 Memorial (281-741-9161)
At La Petite Patisserie, bûche is available only by order in two flavors: chocolate cherry kirsch, and eggnog pastry cream. One bûche serves 8-12 people ($30-$40). Order at least a week in advance. — 1916 Elmen St. (832-836-76551)
In Austin:
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A true Austin institution, Baguette et Chocolat is offering a “Versailles” bûche composed of 72% dark chocolate mousse, with a raspberry middle, a chocolate genoise and a crushed praline base, all encase in a dark chocolate glaze. Bûches are available for 4-10 people at $6.80 per person, from $27.20 to $68 based on size. Bûches will be available from the Dec. 21-24 and it’s best to order as soon as possible. — 12101 Farm to Market 2244, at Bee Cave. (512-263-8388)
On the menu for bûche available at La Patisserie this year: chocolate ganache, with coffee cream and macarons. One bûche is $60 (serves 10-12) and must be ordered 4 days in advance with [email protected]. — 602 W Annie St (512-912-0033; 7301 Burnet Road Ste 102 (512-770-6442)
Julie Myrtille, the youngest pastry chef to be inducted into the Académie Culinaire de France, will soon open her own shop and sell her creations at markets. For Christmas, she is offering two bûches this year: a chocolate praline bûche (chocolate dacquoise, crushed praline, 66% cocoa chocolate mousse, chocolate glaze) and a fraicheur key lime bûche (soft lemon cookie, fresh mint cream, line Chantilly, coconut and lime mirror glaze). Available for 4-7 people for $40 and $70. Email [email protected] Dec. 7-17 to order. Bûches can be picked up at the Farmers Market in Mueller on Dec. 23 from 10am to 2pm. — 4209 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78722.
In Dallas-Fort Worth:
Opened in 2000 by Fabien Goury and Yasmine Bohsali, the Main Street Bistro and Bakery is well-known for its desserts. This year, the bûche de Noël will be offered in three versions: white chocolate and raspberry; chocolate, hazelnut, and caramel; and a final one named “The Bombe.” The last bûche, derived from the dessert of the same name, is made with almond genoise married with crème brulée and chocolate mousse, all covered in a dark chocolate mirror glaze. One bûche is $32 (serves 6), or $38 (serves 10). Order at least 48 hours in advance. — 316 South Main Street, Grapevine (817-424-4333); 7200 Bishop Road, Suite D-11, Plano (972-309-0404); 3600 Shire Boulevard, Suite 100, Richardson (972-578-0294)
At Rush, the bûche is created according to your tastes from two variants: chocolate (composed of a traditional almond genoise accompanied by a chocolate ganache) or white chocolate. From $35 (serves 4) to $70 (serves 12). Available Only by order, with at least 48 hours notice. — 1201 Eldorado Ave, Dallas (214-749-4040)
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Bisous Bisous is a French-inspired pastry shop run by American chef Andrea Meyer, who trained at the Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. Three bûches are available: caramel toffee (chocolate genoise, caramel butter, crushed almonds and dark chocolate ganache), chocolate hazelnut (chocolate genoise, walnut cream, crushed cacao and walnuts, dark chocolate ganache), and white peppermint (plain genoise, mint cream, crushed candy canes, mint cream). Available in individual sizes in store ($7) or as a whole by order (serves 10-12, $45). Order at least 2 days in advance, before Dec. 21 for Dec. 24 pick-up. — 3700 McKinney Ave, Ste 150, Dallas (214-613-3570)
Finally, throughout Texas, the supermarket chain Central Market offers, on its holiday menu, a bûche de Noël for 8 people at $25.99. Three flavor choices: moka, praline, and chocolate.
