It was good to be back in Strasbourg. I missed the stunning medieval architecture, the unique mix of French and German cultures, and the historic centre which it was very walkable. Our drive from Baden-Baden was easy, but once we reached the heart of Strasbourg (and by “heart”, I mean the historic centre), things got a lot tougher. With all the traffic, pedestrians, and one-way streets, it proved to be a nightmare for any driver, especially one with zero patience.
And because we missed our destination a couple of times, we ended up driving in huge circles just to get back on track. But hey—we made it. We’re finally here, safe and sound.
For the first order of business, our little nugget peeled off to check out his toy stores, while yours truly headed straight to the first pastry shop in France on this trip — Donatien Maître Éclair.
Donatien Maître Éclair is technically a specialty éclair shop on bustling Grand’Rue. Founded by pastry chef Donatien Fehr, it offers classic French éclairs with an innovative, modern twist spanning both sweet and savory flavors.
While the savory options including the Scandinave (salmon) and the Aperitif Éclair (goat cheese mousse, olive cake, sun-dried tomatoes, and hazelnuts) all looked promising, I knew I couldn’t let my sweet tooth down this afternoon.
Éclair Caramel Beurre Salé (Salted Butter Caramel) — How could I resist the chef’s signature creation?
I was first attracted by its shining golden color, but it ended up tasting even better than it looked.
This beautiful dessert strikes a delicate, rich balance between deep caramel sweetness and velvety textures, with an explosive crunch from the roasted peanuts on top. The salted caramel cream adds richness with savory notes, perfectly matched with a mascarpone filling right alongside the crisp choux pastry, a 40% milk chocolate glaze, and roasted peanuts on top.
The heavy rain cost me the chance to visit a couple more pastry shops on my list, including Avellina, also on Grand’Rue. Let’s hope I still get the chance tomorrow.
Food Rating: 7.2/10
Price: €€€
Address: 111 Grand'Rue, 67000 Strasbourg, France
Tel: +33 (0)9 5167-9955
Website: http://donatien-maitre-eclair.fr/
Opening Hours: 10:00am - 8:00pm (Sun - Thu), 10:00am - 9:00pm (Fri - Sat)