Gâteau Paris-Brest

A French pastry-chef created this gâteau to celebrate the famous cycle race from Paris to Brest that was launched in 1891. Rings of choux pastry – which, of course, inflate in the oven – represent bicycle wheels, sandwiched with a rich praline cream, though a quicker, easier coffee-flavoured cream is an alternative. The gâteau has remained popular with pâtisseries, particularly during the season of the annual Tour de France.