Skip to main content

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.     
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kermit and Mickey Mouse , Sad

I am a sucker for old fashion cartoons that I can proudly admit that I saw Snow white and the Seven Dwarfs more than I can count my fingers and toes; unabashedly cried when the great King Mufasa died and Simba tried to wake him up, commiserate with  Miss Piggy in her unrequited love for Kermit and other emotional display of affection to these animated personalities that I won't mention for it will totally make me look beyond silly . I n May of 1990, the creator of the Muppets, Jim Henson died.  I saw a tribute from the Disney artist of a drawing of Kermit the Frog being consoled by Mickey Mouse on the death of Kermit's creator.  That drawing created an imprint on my mind the idea of  raw sadness associated with death. Ironic that non living cartoon characters could invoke such  cogent feeling in me, on issue of death.  Here is the photo I am talking about:  T here is a colored version of this but I was still digging up the Internet and up ...
16 comments
Read more

A question is a question and forever a question

I was the last child of my mother, she died when I was a baby at the age of 40. Being motherless and with other 9 siblings to contend with ,ain't no fun.  People, successful or the opposite of what a succes should be are often asked, would you change the story of your life  if you are given the chance? Answer of  course would be relative, who would want to be a hobo all their lives; Bill Gates will say no, I am betting my last dollar on it.  After ruminating the events that had transpired from the day I saw the daylight (not even sure if I was born on daytime or at night) to where I am right now (a happy married life, good health, loving family and friends; and a demanding cat) there is only one thing I would change. I wish my mother had not died young.  But I believe there is no such thing as untimely death. If its your time its your time, no ifs and buts.  My siblings and I often wonder the scenario if...
2 comments
Read more

Stanley Ketchel by Manuel A. Mora

Vertically challenged we the Filipinos are, yet we love the sport of basketball where height is definitely a might.  Growing up with my older brother in one television household,  my chances of watching my favorite shows were remote as me winning jueteng (local numbers game) when the pro basketball season was on. Boxing is another sport that Filipinos have affectation for.  I think we have better chances to succeed  in this sport, we have the physical built and mental toughness to survive in the pugilist arena.   Interestingly, a nephew of my husband, Manuel Mora recently published his book , Stanley Ketchel  A Life of Triumph and Prophecy , and it's out in the market.  It's an engaging story of an American boxer, I had read the rough draft of the book and I am pretty adamant that this will be a  good read. Check out the book especially if you are a boxing aficionado or just to learn the life of an unsung American Boxer -...
2 comments
Read more