As you might guess from the name, the first owner of Patisserie Stohrer, located on Rue Montreuil , was not particularly French. The patisserie was founded in 1730 by Nicolas Stohrer, who was the royal baker to the Polish-born Queen of France, Maria Leszczynska, wife of Louis XV. The baker, who brought a good deal of German baking tradition to France, was also responsible for the invention of the “Baba au Rum,” which is based on another Polish pastry that the French adopted – the brioche.
It is a dry brioche soaked in Malaga wine and seasoned with saffron, along with cream, raisins and fresh grapes. The father of the Queen of France , Stanislas Leshinsky, who loved the Arabian Nights, called the pastry “Ali-Baba” and over the years the name was shortened to “Baba” and the wine was replaced with rum. The pastry is still served in stores today in three forms: “natural”, i.e. brioche dough soaked in rum, “classic” dough soaked in rum with cream and raisins and a super decadent version served with whipped cream.
Today, in the Storer, which is located in Montergeuil, one of the most famous food streets in Paris, you can find not only the famous baba cakes but also other cakes, chocolates and light meals. Needless to say, the quality of everything you buy there will be extremely high but unfortunately the prices will be accordingly. Despite this, the Storer patisserie is undoubtedly one of the most recommended patisseries in Paris and a must-stop for any glutton.
