pithiviers

Pithiviers is a round, enclosed puff pastry pie invented in the town of Pithiviers. The sweet kind filled with almond cream is sometimes a version of the galette des rois, decorated with a spiral design and served during the Christmas holidays with a fève hidden inside. Another kind of pithiviers is made with candied fruit and topped with white fondant icing.

But there are also savoury pithiviers filled with chicken livers, mushrooms, etc, which are often made as individual portions. A popular one in Savoy is pithiviers au lard et au Reblochon, filled with gooey cheese, bacon and onion.

Pithiviers cheese

Pithiviers au foin (also known as Bondaroy) is a pasteurized cow’s milk cheese, with a slightly chalky paste and high fat content, tasting of cream and hay, somewhat like Coulommiers.

It was formerly only made in the summer and preserved in hay until autumn; the best time to try it is from June to November. They also make a peppery version, Pithiviers au poivre.