Eclair for a Comatose Taste Buds

Chocolate Eclair -
photo from Helfer's website

With the last extreme winter weather in St. Louis, my husband commented that pollens were probably frozen, that he was not suffering the symptoms of his nasty allergies on the onset of spring. He spoke too soon. His seasonal allergies came in with a vengeance that he temporarily lost his sense of taste . For a person who have a passionate relationship with his palate, its like being constantly punched on his stomach every time he eats.

Ironically, with his gustation functionality in retirement , the more he wanted to eat different foods thinking that he can cajole the follicles of his tongue to come back pronto. I reminded him, as long as he is in medication for his allergies, it will take a little bit of time . Even if he is served dinner prepared by 5 star Michelin chef Alain Ducasse, it will probably reduced my husband to tears for I will be enjoying the spread but I will have fun describing to him how the food taste ala Andrew Zimmern e.g minerally, herbally, irony etc.

Last Saturday in his quest for his wandering palate, he took me to Helfer's www.helferspastries.com. , a mom and pop bakeshop in Florissant for lunch. I am not much of a sandwich person but their CJ's Reuben created an explosive havoc on my tongue with the right tartness of sauerkraut; I fell in love with it. The quiche is sacrosanctly eggy. I can tell from the food we ordered that the ingredients used are not industrial type (I meant commercial but 'industrial" makes it sounds more sinister).

But what made the day so special was when my husband bit into his Chocolate eclair. He said he can discern all the flavors in the Eclair, eureka , taste buds 70% restored. He felt like he was in heaven, said he.

You don't have to experience the loss of the ability to savor to fully enjoy Helfer's Chocolate Eclair. The pastry, filling, and chocolate glaze are done in perfection that even a comatose taste buds would gladly wake up to it.

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