The mythical “Tarte Tropézienne” is a heavenly dessert made up of two slices of brioche filled with a unique, signature vanilla cream and topped with hard sugar crystals. Despite not bearing any characteristics typical of Mediterranean cuisine, this delicious treat is a star of Southern French cooking and there’s a story behind its rise to fame that happened because of a stroke of genius and a stroke of luck.
Polish baker, Alexandre Micka, arrived in Provence in 1945 and opened shop in St Tropez. He brought with him a special recipe handed down by his grandmother; it was a delectable cake comprised of brioche filled with cream and topped with sugar. The secret to the success of the Tropezienne lies in this Vanilla cream, and to this day the precise recipe for the cream is fiercely guarded in a locked safe.
The story goes that iconic French actress, Brigitte Bardot, was in St Tropez with her film director husband, Roger Vadim, and they were filming the legendary French film, “And God Created Woman.” Micka was the official caterer for the cast and crew, and Bardot couldn’t get enough of the delicious cream filled brioche dessert he served every day. Still without an official name, Bardot suggested Micka name his recipe after St Tropez, and a legend was born!
Today, the original bakery is owned by Alexandre Micka’s successor, and in addition to the original flagship store in the town square of St Tropez, there are 20 other boutiques in France and an online store.