Where to buy a good financier?
Beneath its apparent simplicity and appetizing golden crust, the financier is a delicate balance between the melt-in-your-mouth richness of its texture, a delicate fragrance and a crust that's slightly crunchy under the tooth. A cookie as elegant as it is complex to make.
Born in convents in the XVIIᵉ century under the name " visitandine ", this little cake made from almond powder and egg whites enjoyed a second wind in the XIXᵉ century. a stone's throw from the Bourse, pastry chef Lasne is said to have had the idea of making lingot-shaped cakes to appeal to a clientele of harried financiers, giving the cookie its singular name.
Since then, the recipe has survived the centuries. It is now available in pure butter or all-vegetable, lemon or chocolate, plain or garnished. The financier is once again inspiring craftsmen.
Vincent Guerlais (Nantes)
At Vincent Guerlais, a benchmark in Nantes patisserie, the financier adopts a pure butter recipe, with a firm, rich and fairly sweet texture, faithful to the spirit of the cookie of yesteryear. The almond powder base lends a distinctive taste, enhanced by the flaked almonds on the surface, which add a slight crunch. The result is simple, delicious and perfectly baked. A classic as sweet as its value for money.
- Price: €1.50
- Where? 11 rue Franklin, 44000 Nantes
- See Gault&Millau's review of Vincent Guerlais
Beurre Noisette (Dijon - Fabrice Gillotte, Meilleur Ouvrier de France)
in Dijon, MOF chocolatier-confiseur Fabrice Gillotte returns to his pastry-making roots with a traditional yet precise take on the financier. It all starts with the product: a homemade almond powder, made from almonds from Provence, finely ground to a texture that approaches perfection. Baked exclusively in metal molds, it ensures a clean crust while preserving the softness of the heart. Few variations, no tricks: vanilla, hazelnut or fresh seasonal fruit.
A precise execution, refocused on the essentials, for a high-level financier at an affordable price.
- Price: €2.40
- Where? 50 rue du Bourg, 21000 Dijon
- www.beurrenoisette.com
Aujourd'hui Demain (Paris)
In this vegan concept store in the 11ᵉ arrondissement, the financier is therefore egg- and butter-free and cut into (generous!) slices. When we visited, it was served with rhubarb and a light, airy lemon thyme vegan chantilly. A wonderful idea that adds freshness and contrasts with the density of the cookie. The texture, moister than the classic version, is surprising without being disturbing. This reinterpreted financier can also be found plated at Présent, the bistro opened by the brand, underlining its vocation as both a snack and a dessert.
- Price: €5 per slice (generous)
- Where? 42 rue du Chemin Vert, 75011 Paris
- www.aujourdhui-demain.com
Pâtisserie Degraeve (Ardèche - Julien Degraeve)
near Annonay, Degraeve offers a financier in pastry-cake format. A base that changes with the season (roasted coconut, hazelnut or almond), coated with a fine chocolate topping that adds crunch, and then fruit or more gourmet inserts such as chocolate or praline.a lovely interpretation of the financier, supported by local sourcing: fruit, almonds and, of course, the famous Valrhona chocolate produced nearby.
- Price: €6.90
- Where to buy Croix de Justice, 2147 route de Lyon, 07430 Davézieux, France
- www.patisserie-degraeve.fr
La Délicatisserie (La Rochelle - Nina Métayer)
There's no need to introduce Nina Métayer, a gifted chef who has been winning awards ever since she was named Gault&Millau Pastry Chef of the Year in 2017. In her boutiques in La Rochelle, you'll find a financier who lives up to her reputation. With its mini-muffin look, it remains faithful to the original recipe, while allowing a few variations around citrus fruits, crushed hazelnuts or, more unexpectedly, sunflower seeds. The cooking is precise, the butter-sugar balance well maintained, the texture melting in the mouth. A contemporary financier, without unnecessary effects.
- Price: €3.50
- Where? 90 boulevard André Sautel, 17000 La Rochelle
- See Gault&Millau's review of Le fournil par Nina Métayer
Oh Faon (Marseille)
At Oh Faon, the financier is vegan and gluten-free, made with almond powder, rice flour, wholemeal sugar and powdered sugar. A most inclusive version!
Without butter, there's no indulgence? Yes, there is! The house has thought of everything. A fruit paste (raspberry, peach, strawberry, apricot...) provides the aromatic hold and gourmandise that might otherwise be lacking, while margarine and olive oil provide the texture. The result in the mouth is close to a classic financier, dense and round. And we can't help but feel a touch of nostalgia linked to its shape, which is reminiscent of the "barquettes" of our childhood.
- Price: €0.80
- Where to buy? La Pâtisserie, 6 rue Edmond Rostand, 13006 Marseille
- www.ohfaon.com
Halle aux Grains (Paris - Bras family / Jean-Julien Freydt)
at Halle aux Grains, the Bras family's Parisian stronghold atop the Bourse de Commerce, the financier (a name perfectly suited to the place!) is offered in the afternoon. A gastronomic version, designed to be served on a plate, encircled by a shortbread crust and enriched with poached seasonal fruit.the fruit is inserted into the pastry and slightly soaked, adding softness without weighing down the cookie - quite the opposite, in fact.
The construction follows the logic of a dessert, with a delicate balance between delicacy and freshness. A high-flying financier to be enjoyed comfortably seated in a timeless setting, admiring the bustling Halles district, once the belly of Paris.
- Price? €9
- Where? Bourse de Commerce, 2 rue de Viarmes, 75001 Paris
- See Gault&Millau's review of
Halle aux grains
Maison Rosa (Paris - Louise Riot & Rebecca Mabou)
Maison Rosa, a young pastry-coffee shop run by Louise Riot, a chef who has worked in a number of prestigious establishments, and Rebecca Mabou - a barista - offers a financier made according to the rules of the art, but with a slightly modern twist. Just the right amount of sweetness, enriched by a homemade hazelnut praline insert - made from Piedmont hazelnuts - which is runny when cut, it adds a gourmet, regressive touch to the classic structure. A meticulous execution, for a gourmet, well-executed financier, to be enjoyed with a specialty coffee, another signature of the place.
- Price: €3.90
- Where? 58 rue La Fayette, 75009 Paris, France
- www.rosamaisonpatissiere.fr
Cacao T (Toulouse - Gwenn Lanoë)
In this tea room near the Capitole, a miniature version of the financier is offered at a mini price, allowing you to try several references without overloading on calories.
The pistachio version is distinguished by a fine balance between almond and walnut, with a soft texture, controlled baking and a sensation of freshness in the mouth.
The plain Financier, a classic almond version, remains pleasant, marked by the crunchiness provided by the almonds on the surface, ideal for accompanying tea or coffee.
- Price: €0.50 (miniature version)
- Where? 21 rue Charles de Rémusat, 31000 Toulouse
- www.saloncacaot.fr
Monsieur Cake (Rhône-Alpes - Adrien Romeder)
At Monsieur Cake, the term "travel cookie" takes on its full meaning. Only present in a few markets in the Rhône-Alpes region, Monsieur Cake offers a gourmet financier, to be enjoyed on the go, in pistachio or almond versions.
In terms of ingredients, the company favors short circuits with local and regional producers. A simple, effective version.
- Price: between €2 and €2.20
- Where? Rhône-Alpes (markets, see website)
- www.monsieurcake.fr
