Mmm Madeleines, those tiny shell shaped cakes that are a national favourite of the French.Legend has it that they were by a young maid at the court of King Stanislas of Lorraine. When the King’s chef refused to prepare dessert due to a fit of the sulks, the maid stepped in and made some simple little cakes. The King and his guests were so taken with the, they called them after the maid – Madeleine.
Daniel Galmiche says “Pistachio madeleines and chocolate sorbet are the perfect combination, but you may also like to serve the madeleines with a simple vanilla ice cream or even a dessert pear. They go well with the strawberries too. So many flavours seem to be made for madeleines – vanilla, cinnamon, star anise, hazelnut, orange, honey – but, for me, the one thing you certainly can’t beat is when they are served warm straight out of the oven"
Pistachio Madeleines with Chocolate Sorbet
By Daniel Galmiche