Last week, a friend and I went to a cute new cafe called Maison Belen. After lunching on some truly fabulous pasta with wild mushrooms, I had a dessert that pretty much blew my mind: A slice of cake, made entirely from compressed Maria cookies. That’s it above — it’s called a “tarta de galleta.”
If you don’t know Maria cookies, you should run to your local Mexican grocery store and buy some. They’re thin biscuits, lightly sweetened, and they’re perfect with coffee or eaten as a snack. When I got stomach-sick a few months ago, the doctor prescribed them on my list of “bland” foods, and they helped keep me sane while I shoveled in boring steamed vegetables and plain chicken breasts.
At the time, after eating Maria cookies for a week or so, my mind started to hum with the possibilities. Why not use them as the crust for a creamy banana pudding pie? Or maybe as the crust for a Lesley-inspired Chocolate Delight, one of Crayton’s favorite dishes that involves chocolate pudding and cool whip and cream cheese, which I’ve been wanting to tweak for years?
Of course, I haven’t done any of this yet (been too busy making my own hamburger buns and butter), but a bite of the tarta de galleta brought all my old desires back. I took a bite and think I moaned. The layered cookies gave the dessert a dense, almost pudding-cake like taste. And it wasn’t overwhelmingly sweet. Just thick. It had hips you could grab onto.
Gonna attempt to make this over the weekend. And I’m going back to Maison Belen, because it was seriously the sweetest place ever, overflowing with scones, cupcakes on pretty plates, desserts in glass cases, and colorful upholestered chairs. Pictures below.
Maison Belen, my new favorite Mexico City spot for a girls’ lunch
Location: Galileo 31, at the corner of Galileo and Emilio Castelar in Polanco
What I ate for lunch: fusilli with wild mushrooms
The silverware here is wrapped in a napkin, and tied with a grosgrain ribbon.
Plump, luscious scones
A dessert I did not get the name of, because I was too busy drooling
The small, inside dining room area seems perfect for sipping coffee and reading a fluffy magazine.
You have to try the lime meringue tart.
This little character is on all the menus, and the website. Isn't she adorable?
What a darling looking restaurant! That food sounds great. My morning latte isn’t quite holding.
A history of “Galletas Marías”:
http://mexicobob.blogspot.com/2008/07/galletas-maras.html
Always have a box in the pantry…… my wife uses them to form the crust for key lime pie instead of graham crackers.
Ken in DFW
I don’t know anyone in Mexico that doesn’t love Maria’s cookies. I’ve posted some of my recipes on http://recipesbyleslie.blogspot.com/
OH! YAY Maria cookies! I’ve been smitten with them since I moved here and my husband brought some home – but I’ve been too busy eating them to THINK about using them like you mentioned! 😛 As a crust!? OH YES please! Cheesecake and bannana cream and coconut cream here we come! Gracias!
Ever since i saw the picture of the tarta de galletas, I’ve been dreaming about it!
Once you figure out the recipe…PLEASE post it!! I am craving this delicous dessert!
I have a recepie of key lime pie with galleta maria crust. You can make cheese cake, key lime pie or any king of pie with a galleta maria crust. It is great!
Que cosa mas linda! el restaurante claro la familia de mi prometido hace un pie de queso con galletas marias, simplemente delicioso.
I personally know the owner of Maison Belen and my best friends made the design of the little chef character and all the menus and illustrations decorating Maison Belen. I’m very proud of them!!!
I’m leaving you the blog of one of my friends so you can check out his work and, if you understand spanish, also his writting.
And whenever you’re in Mexico City visit Maison Belen, you won’t be disappointed!!
Saludos desde México!!!!
http://deeplysuperficialunblog.blogspot.com/
Thanks for sharing your photos! I’m planning on taking my friend here for brunch tomorrow. Now we know what dessert to look for!