My husband is working in France for two weeks, so I have tagged along! We will be staying in the town of Beauvais, then he will take a week off and we will spend it in Paris.
Today is Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), the last day before the beginning of the Lenten season in the Christian calendar. There are many celebrations around the world for Mardi Gras, such as pancakes and other sweet treats for dinner, carnivals, and general indulgence. I was a little disappointed when the lady at the Beauvais tourist information centre told me that here Mardi Gras has become more of a day for kids to dress up, but not much in terms of special meals or parties. However, being in France, I proceeded to look for some sweet pastries to throw my own little Fat Tuesday treat with my husband.
First, I had to get some pain au chocolat for breakfast:
A delicious flaky pastry, with dark chocolate inside.
One of the many boulangeries (bakeries) had what I just learned is a very popular pastry called Pepito:
In Spain and in several Latin American countries, including Mexico, a Pepito is a boys’ nickname and also the name of a sandwich. I will have to read more about the origin of this French pastry. It is a buttery dough, filled with custard and chocolate chips, or in French pépites de chocolat, maybe that is where the name comes from.
Last, but not least, beignets, which are very similar to a fried donut or the classic Fat Tuesday treat Paczki, with different fruit or chocolate fillings:
I got apple and raspberry flavours.
My Slice of Mexico 