La fée rêve
Eve Agnoly
I can vividly recall two distinct memories of Eve, each shimmering with its own unique magic. In the first, her childhood Christmases come to life, enveloped in the sweet, comforting aromas of chocolate and vanilla from her uncle's enchanted kitchen. A master confectioner, he crafted Yule logs each Christmas that were more than mere desserts—they were edible masterpieces, woven with the warmth and care that transform simple moments into cherished memories.
The sponge cakes, light as air, came in two distinct flavors: a classic vanilla and a rich chocolate. For her grandmother, who loved vanilla's simple elegance, he created a vanilla-scented Yule log adorned with the fluffiest buttercream, as white and soft as the first snow of winter. In contrast, for her mother, who had a well-known distaste for buttercream, he prepared a Black Forest-inspired creation—a decadent blend of chocolate cake and lush ganache, reminiscent of the deep, mysterious woods in fairy tales.
As a child, Eve was more than an onlooker; she was her uncle's littlest apprentice. At seven, her contributions to the Yule logs were modest, yet her uncle welcomed her with the patience and warmth only a loving family member could offer. She remembered standing on a stool, her small hands eagerly trying to help, often ending up with more chocolate on her apron than in the bowl. Her favorite task was preparing the sugar-coated hazelnuts. She would watch, fascinated, as the nuts turned golden, their aroma mingling with the sweet scent of caramelizing sugar—a fragrance that was the very essence of her childhood Christmases….
The full story appears in our upcoming Chandler Tablebook publication. Get notified before the release >>
Montreal, Canada