Rediscovering Layers of Indulgence with Chef Cyrille Soenen's Classic Kouign Amann

The round Breton pastry with its intricately layered and croissant-like buttery bread dough and indulgent caramelized sugar slow-baked to perfection brings back so many fond memories...

...and a temptingly sweet way to end another year. And Just like Cyrille Soenen's CroNaps (more on the CroNaps on my previous posts, A Sweet Reunion with Chef Cyrille Soenen's CroNaps and Meet Chef Cyrille Soenen's New CroNaps!), it was good to see the Kouign Amann one more time...

At the height of the mad holiday rush, a red package arrives. Once you open the box, the comfortingly familiar buttery aroma takes you back to good times, exciting times, when I ventured on a personal journey with this food blog. Cyrille and Anna Soenen, and the Kouign Amann, were a part of that personal journey, making this package special (for more on Cyrille Soenen's Kouign Amann, see my earlier posts, Taking Brasserie Cicou's Classic Kouign Amann to the Next Level with Cyrille Soenen's inventive variations on the traditional Breton cake including a savory version with foie gras, An Epic Year-Ender Lunch at Brasserie Cicou on a memorable feast featuring the Kouign Amann, This Valentine's Day, Say It With A Kouign Amann...Make That Three. on Cyrille Soenen's seasonal variant, and A Taste of Le Bouchon Lyonnais at Brasserie Cicou on my earlier encounter with the L'Original Kouign Amann de Cicou and the Chocolate Kouign Amann). One indulgent bite, followed by another, and the mad rush of the coming holidays fades, replaced by a quiet calmness. Yes, the Kouign Amann has that effect on you, and you're in a happy place with just one bite. It also reminds you why you started a food blog, to share those unique and special flavor experiences like the Kouign Amann.

The contrasting textures of soft and chewy dough with the lightly crisp edges release an indulgent sweetness that coats the palate, reminding you of that first encounter so many years back. It's been a rewarding and flavorful journey with my food blog, and it's good to see the Kouign Amann one more time...

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