Christmas log 2024 in Paris: Reÿs Glacier's original frosted creations

Here we go again, for the enchanted season in which the end-of-year festivities take us. As Paris is decked out in its finery, we're scouring the capital for gifts for loved ones and food ideas to liven up our New Year's Eve banquets.

For those with a sweet tooth, this also marks the return of the season's flagship pastry, the famous Yule log. A must-have at the end of any festive meal, the log has taken over pastry shops, bakeries, grand hotels and other gourmet addresses, each sharing their vision of this iconic cake. Some like it classic, others prefer it revisited, and still others are more inclined towards frosted versions. For yes, to round off a hearty meal, as is customary during this festive season, we sometimes think that nothing beats a frozen log!

Reÿs, the Marais ice cream parlour with crazy gelato ice creams
Reÿs Glaces Éternelles is the name of this artisanal ice cream parlour just a stone's throw from Paris's Hôtel de Ville in the 4th arrondissement, offering Italian gelato with the flavours of childhood and travel. So let's take our taste buds on a journey, or fall back into childhood. [Read more]

If you fall into this category, now's the time to pay a visit to an artisanal ice cream parlour that's not short of originality. Located in the heart of Marais, Reÿs glacier has a habit of delighting us with its unusual and terribly gourmet flavors, while inviting us to revise our classics. For the festive season, this frosty spot is unveiling its collection of frozen Yule logs, and spoiler alert: there's something for everyone!

First, there are two cubic-shaped "eternals ", each inspired by a childhood fragrance. On the one hand, there's Snickers, a blend of vanilla, peanut, caramel and chocolate. On the other, the Mystère, with vanilla, meringue, hazelnut and praline. Two terribly gourmand fragrances that on paper may seem heavy. In fact, both are surprisingly well-balanced and lighter than you'd expect.

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Next up is a collection of three logs in the shape of a mountain, with fragrances that take us off the beaten track. The three vanilla logs break the mould with an interesting combo of Intense Vanilla, Kasha Vanilla (vanilla gelato and toasted buckwheat) and Sesame Vanilla. The whole offers a good contrast between the sweetness of the regressive spice and the roasted accents of buckwheat and sesame, which give the log its character.

For chocoholics and more, the Chocolat Passion log is sure to please. Composed of an Amazonian Gods sorbet (100% cocoa, cashew and Tonka bean), married to a passion fruit sorbet, it's a duo that rests on a cocoa nougatine. Finally, our favorite, the Coco-Mango log, is, as with the other creations, more complex than its name suggests. Here we find the "Balade à Bangkok" ice cream with Thai rice, coconut milk and lemongrass, which includes the Elexir de Java sorbet with mango, ginger, lime and long java pepper, all on a nougatine with puffed rice and lime. It's like a reincarnation of rice pudding in ice-cream form, with a twist and a twist of peppy flavors. This creation in particular should appeal to gourmets looking for a light, original ice-cream log.