CMH Gourmand – Eating in Columbus & Ohio

I had wandered in to La Chatelaine on the way home from a long day at work. I had a hankering for a good loaf of bread to serve as the base for a perfect peanut butter and jelly and sandwich as comfort food. While my bread was sliced, I saw a sign about ordering Yule logs and figured what the heck so I ordered two on a whim (I also needed to meet the minimum credit card charge). I had no idea what they were. I had a small soiree on the books for Monday and figured this would mix things up a bit.

As an afterthought I decided to research what a bought when I got home (it typically works the other way with me). The more I read the happier I became. I am typically a bit of a bah humbug type for the holiday. For me Christmas is just something to be endured as I wait for the promise of New Years Eve. However when I found out that I had just ordered two alcohol soaked logs of pastry, I was pleased with my random choice (my heart went from two sizes too small to three sizes larger).

The bûche de Noël (Yule log) has a long tradition in France. In cake form it serves to represent a special wood log that was burned from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day in the Périgord (a holdover from a pagan Gaul celebration).

You can read more here, from our friends at La Chatelaine.

There are four flavors to choose from (Vanilla, Chocolate, Mocha, and Grand Marnier). I picked up a Mocha and a Grand Marnier. The sampling report from the usual suspects at the soiree was one to two thumbs up. I often forget about La Chatalaine’s pastries which I should not because they make a very good King Cake. Since Marti Gras is not so far away, I need to keep these French folks on my radar.