St. Michel Madeleines • French Sponge Cakes

LOCATED IN LA BRETAGNE FRANCE SINCE 1905. ONCE UPON A TIME IN SAINT MAICHEL FRANCE LIVED A MASTER PASTRY CHEF NAMED JOSEPH GRELLIER. HE HAD A SECRET RECIPE FOR A ROUND MELTINGLY SOFT AND GOLDEN BISCUIT CALLED LA GALETTE ST MICHEAL. ONE DAY IN JULY 5TH 1905 HIS WIFE CAME WITH THE IDEA TO SELL THE GALETTES TO THE ELEGANT PARISIAN LADIES WHO CAME TO BATHE IN THE SEA AND ENJOY THE SEASIDE. JOSEPH GRELLIER CHOSE THE HEN AS HIS BRAND LOGO SYNONYMOUS OF TOP QUALITY INGREDIENTS THE COUNTRYSIDE AND FRANCE BUT ST MICHEL IS NOT ONLY ABOUT BISCUITS. IT IS ALSO EXCEEDINGLY PROUD OF THE COMMERCE MADELEINE. THE STORY OF THIS MADELEINE CAKE BEGAN AT THE TIME OF STANISLAUS 1ST KING OF POLAND AND DUKE OF LARRAINE. HE NO LONGER HAD A PASTRY CHEF TO MAKE DESSERT AND SO HE ASKED A SERVANT GIRL FOR A PASTRY. THE KING ENJOYED THE LITTLE CAKE SO MUCH THAT HE NAMED IT AFTER THE SERVANT: MADELEINE.