The new "It" dessert

It seems the glory days of the macaron (or “macaroon” if you want to anglicise it) are long gone and a new French fancy has taken the mantle of most Instagrammed treat.The humble éclair has been given a makeover of Caitlyn Jenner proportions: gone is the sticky splodge of icing, replaced by silky ganache, floral appliqués or gold leaf, and that questionable crème filling now contains 68% Ecuadorian dark chocolate or Tahitian vanilla. They are also somewhat more petite than their predecessors - despite being more expensive.While Christophe Adam’s L’Éclair de Génie blazes a trail for fancy éclairs in Paris and Japan, Joakim Prat's Maître Choux is doing the same for those with sweet teeth in London.The theories behind both pâtisseries are the same: dainty éclairs with perfectly light pastry, presented in unique, contemporary flavours – some of which aren’t so unique, as both outlets seem to share remarkably similar tastes.Of course there are still the classics – the traditional dark chocolate éclair from both pâtisseries perhaps bears the most resemblance to the original format, but packs a rich, velvety punch in the crème filling and is decorated with paper-thin chocolate and delicate gold leaf.Another former fad, salted butter caramel, appears on both menus. Maître Choux’s was delicate and light, but despite being topped with sea salt flakes I found the flavour a little lacking.  L’Éclair de Génie scored a win in this category, and with added depth from the mascarpone in the filling, it’s no wonder why this is their top-selling éclair.Lemon – or citron if you want to be proper – also features at both joints, with L’Éclair de Génie adding tangy yuzu to the mix. But it was Maître Choux’s more classic Sicilian lemon filling which took honours – especially in the stripped-back choux buns, which don’t have any icing to spoil the perfectly-pitched sourness of that lemon curd.Despite the obvious flavour similarities, there were a couple of truly unique, stand-out varieties at each patisserie. At L’Éclair de Génie it was the passion framboise which took my fancy, the tart passion fruit balancing perfectly with sweet raspberry and a sticky, fruity glaze. Across the Channel at Maître Choux, the star of the show was the violet and berry – the latter ingredient adding a tangy twist and ensuring the floral notes remained subtle but detectable.Priced from €4.00 and £4.90, it’s fair to say the new “treat of the moment" is a little more cost-prohibitive than the ubiquitous macaron. Will this have an impact on its ability to dominate the dessert world, just like the macaron did? Only time – and taste – will tell. L’Éclair de GénieÉclairs priced between €4.00 and €6.00.Various locations in Paris and Tokyo.leclairdegenie.com Maître ChouxÉclairs priced between £4.90 and £5.20, choux buns between £3.00 and £3.20.15 Harrington Road, South Kensington, UK, SW7 3ES.Maitrechoux.comBy Lisa Tan

Epsom Derby Ladies Day, Polo in the Park and the Prix de Diane Chantilly

With Spring Carnival well and truly underway in Australia and many racedays ahead, I wanted to share some images from my trip to London and Paris in June. It was my first time in Europe and it was a holiday focused on racing capturing a number of racedays in a trip just shy of three weeks.I had been told by a number of people how different racing is in England and France and not to have too high expectations of the various racedays I was attending. I was expecting quite a different scene at the track than what I was used to in Australia and I was not disappointed! Here’s a little overview of the races I attended and how they compare to Australia.First up I went to the Investec Epsom Derby Ladies Day. Of all the racedays I attended this was most similar to going to the races as I am used to in Australia. With most attendees making some effort in dressing for the occasion the results ranged from casual, tarty, over-the-top and quite stunning! There was an emphasis on the actual races with betting and drinking being the key objectives for many patrons. Lisa and I had purchased tickets to the Queens stand which is the equivalent of the members stand in Australia. Lisa and I met up with FOTF regular Kelli Odell and her mum Terri and had a great day out. There was a best dressed competition (which Lisa posted about here) and a number of women had obviously made a special effort to take part in it. I wasn’t prepared for the infield carnival where the gypsies hang out. We didn’t go over to the infield, but it looked like a lot of fun.

Next up part 2- Royal Ascot. By Angela Menz

Pitt Cue Co., London, UK

A warning: if you are vegetarian, do not read on for you will find no peace in this post. It's strictly for carnivores only.Starting our life selling food from a van, Pitt Cue Co.'s popularity was such that friends Tom Adams and Jamie Berger decided their authentic American BBQ fare deserved a more permanent location. So early last year, much to their frequent diners' delight, they moved into a site around the corner from bustling Carnaby Street.Pitt Cue, the restaurant, is little larger than a hole-in-the-wall, with a super discrete exterior and no obvious signage. Despite the lack of decoration, it's surprisingly easy to find - just look for the constant line of hungry wannabe-patrons queued out the front.It's a scenario that's bound to happen when your restaurant only seats 30 covers - just over 20 in the cramped downstairs dining room, and 7 upstairs in the bar area - and you serve mouth-wateringly delicious and affordable comfort food. Gladly, the staff ensure an efficient waiting policy and filter hungry diners through the bar area only a few at a time to avoid claustrophobia.The bar menu is extensive - but only if you like bourbon. There's a lengthy list of the spirit, separated into "bourbon" and "rye" categories, while the cocktail list promises bourbon as the base for every concoction. Fear not, non-bourbonites, for they do sell beer (their own "Whatever" draught and a selection in bottles), one cider (a traditional still one), and American Root Beer and Cream Soda.On the reverse, Pitt Cue's food menu is very succinct and changes regularly. You've got "MEAT" which contains three to four kinds of the stuff vegetarians fear most, followed by a couple of daily specials, a choice of five sides, a couple of bun-inclusive options and some "extras" (generally, more meat in smaller portions).On my latest visit, we hungrily ordered smoked chipotle wings (£5.50), the beef rib (£12), pulled pork (£11.50), and bone marrow mash and grilled broccoli with almonds (one side is included with each meat order). The wings arrived first, coated in a sticky and tangy sauce that was milder and sweeter than I expected. To the relief of the ever-expanding line outside, the mains followed quickly, presented in canteen-style tin trays with homemade pickles, onion and a chunk of chargrilled sourdough bread on the side.The star of the show was undoubtedly the pulled pork, which I can't quite seem to go past every time I've eaten here. It's perfectly moist, shredded into strands as light as fairy floss, with a delectably sweet, smoky marinade as the finishing touch. In a word: amazing.I would usually eat it with the green chilli slaw (a refreshing, zingy coleslaw with just the right amount of sauce and spice), but opted to try something different with the grilled broccoli and almonds. The broccoli was tasty and not overgrilled, but I regret not ordering the slaw - it's the right choice with the pork.Although the beef ribs were a little fatty, the meat just fell off the bone as they were ungraciously torn apart. The marrow mash was silky smooth and super tasty, providing a rich accompaniment to hunks of sticky beef.After wolfing down our meal in record time our server offered us the dessert menu, which we declined - partly due to the waiting hordes, but mostly due to our expanded bellies. Using the former as an excuse, she nicely replied, "No rush, you guys can stay all night if you want," which is unique and quietly comforting at a joint like this. I don't think the lengthy queue would see it that way.Pitt Cue Co., 1 Newburgh St, London W1F 7RB. Open Monday - Saturday 12-3pm and 5:30-11pm; Sunday 12-3pm and 6-10:30pm. No reservations. A meal for two people costs between £30-£50.By Lisa Tan