Sadaharu Aoki – fruit tart
My brother came back from Paris again, & as per usual, brought home 2 huge boxes full of cakes from Sadaharu Aoki! One of which caught my eye was this dinky fruit tart, with a petite pink macaron sitting pretty in the middle. 
The picture on the right is the cake card with nutty chocolate cream smeared in the middle, which I realized that it was acting as a ‘glue’ to stop the pastry from slipping on the card. Technique to be noted!
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Taste verdict? Delicious. A big tick all round.
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Recently, at the market, something delightful happens. For two weeks in a row, I have had several Coco&Me blog readers come to visit my stall – one was all the way from Kent!
We had a bit of a chat – found out she found my blog after googling for a recipe for brownies. The cute lady then bought the said brownies plus some of the other cakes too. Dear lady, a small message to you – thank you for coming by, it made my day, & I really hope those brownies are up to your expectations…
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On a down note, the market itself has been so so lately – the weather’s been rainy, tinkering on between cloudy or downright pouring, & what with outdoor venue’s dependant on the outcome of weather, I’m not making fantastic sales.
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It’s such a down-er, that. Some weeks, I make a mistake of making too much – even if I had kept closely with the BBC weather site all week, trying to guess how much foot-count the market expects that Saturday…
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For two weeks in a row, I had some cakes left – say another 50 pounds or so worth. That’s when I debate wether to start shouting “cakes sale!!!” & “end-of-day discount on cakes!!!” But last week, when I did this, I felt embarrassed as I felt the attention of the people sitting at the cafe (directly looking on to my stall), & could clearly feel that they were amusing themselves on account of me. The more I shouted discount, & when no successful transaction was made, I felt under pressure…
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Therefore, soon as I sold my last cake with a stupid price tag, I fled the scene, a little disheartened. – It’s so difficult to gage how many cakes to make… Sometimes I have market days when I sell out before 3pm, but then there are days when things aren’t rosey. On a positive side, good days feel fantastic instead I guess, & my partner D’s happy when he finally gets his mitts on the left overs at home!
Ooooh lucky you! Those cakes are absolutely beautiful. I’m envious :)
Comment by Truffle - July 26, 2007 6:24 am
Hi there Truffle!! If you ever visit Paris or Tokyo, check the guy’s patisserie out! ;-)
Comment by tamami - July 26, 2007 10:08 am
Don’t be discouraged by the weather! It’s awful I know! England and Texas are both getting hit hard! Any leftovers can always be sent state side. :)
Comment by Jerry - July 26, 2007 1:50 pm
Hi Jerry!
So Texas’ getting rained on too? For the excessive amount of rain we’re getting here (with flooding disasters an’ all), I thought the world’s rain decided to concentrate here. ;) I hear central Europe’s got the hots. The way things are heading, I think UK’s heading for missing a good Summer all together this year… – If we’re living in the same town, I would have dropped by with the left overs! (in exchange with your delightful food!)
Comment by tamami - July 26, 2007 4:15 pm
Hi Tatami,
sorry to hear about your poor sales. Don’t be disheartened. I hope the rainy spell will soon pass. Have been following BBC World Service and understand that flood situations around rivers Servern and Thames to be bad. In Singapore, we have had heavy down pours the past week or so too! I love your blog and found you when searching for macaron recipes just a few days ago! Will try it out once i get my hands on almond powder.
Be cheery!
Jean
Comment by Jean - July 27, 2007 3:25 am
oops! just realised i have typed your name wrong! I sincerely apologize for this….
Comment by Jean - July 27, 2007 3:35 am
Hello Jean, thank you for your lovely comment. I’m a optimistic – type of a girl, so I’m back to my happy self now – & tomorrow’s weather’s gonna be good apparently, so hopefully I can do better in terms of sale! But with so much rain everywhere, I can’t stop thinking that the world is going slowly crazy… Jean, good luck with the macarons!!
Comment by tamami - July 27, 2007 6:36 pm
Pastry gifts from Paris lucky you. On the weather front, Ireland is also bad, I know how shocking but even by our standards it’s pretty dire and I have ten 7 year olds and a bouncy castle in my garden tomorrow! Even though I’m selling in a shop I’ve still been affected by the weather, muffins and brownies make perfect picnic treats. but not if you can’t get out to go on said picnic!
Comment by Laura - July 28, 2007 3:10 pm
Hey Laura. It seems the weather is going crazy everywhere… My girlfriend from Denmark came to visit me today, & she too says it’s been pretty awful there. – I heard tomorrow’s weather’s not so bad, so hopefully yr party of 7 yr olds will have fun! (As well as adults that are young at heart!) As for yr cake sales in the shop – I’m quite surprised to hear that – maybe the dissapointing heavy rain stops people buying joyful cakes…
Comment by tamami - July 28, 2007 9:32 pm
Dear Tamami,
I love your blog! If I should ever visit London one day, I would love to drop by your stall too, rain or shine :)
Comment by Caprice - July 29, 2007 9:52 am
Hello Caprice! Thank you! Please do drop by – especially when there’s rain – that’s when I especially need everyones’ support!! ;-)
Comment by tamami - July 29, 2007 4:50 pm
Keep your spirits up. Your food is truly beautiful and is a great part of the market.
B.
Comment by Barny - July 31, 2007 9:48 pm
thanks barny for yr lovely support! Hope to c u again at the market!
Comment by tamami - August 1, 2007 7:38 am
How much I wish I can try your cakes also…
Comment by Cindy - August 19, 2007 12:33 am
Hi Cindy! That’s nice of you…
Comment by tamami - August 19, 2007 10:20 pm
kia ora Tamami
Here in NZ it is almost Summer and the fresh summer fruits are starting to appear in the markets. I am about to attempt a strawberry tart having had a little success yesterday with a simple sliced apple variety. I was googling for another pate sucree recipe and I saw your website. I wish I was still close by London if only to come sample your gorgeous products. You are an inspiration! I will return in spirit if not in person and check out your website often….I am bringing my butter to room temperature as I type – will let you know how I get on and feedback I get from my barbecue guests tomorrow evening.
with kindest regards
Pauline (aka labbit99)
Comment by labbit99 - November 9, 2007 1:56 am
Kia ora Pauline!
I’ve never been to NZ, & had no idea what ‘kia ora’ meant, so I had to google it up! ;-) And now I know! Ta!
As for the strawberry tart, what are you going to fill the tart with under the fruit?
At the hotel I did apprenticing for, they ‘blind-baked’, then a thin layer of jam, then piped Creme Pat (custard cream). They then sliced the strawberries in half lengthways, placed them cut-side-down on the cream. Finally brushing glaze all over.
Good luck with your tarts, & I look forward to hearing about your results!!
Comment by tamami - November 9, 2007 1:43 pm