photo by Chris Bassett

It isn’t even remotely chilly yet, and we have no falling leaves to speak of, but a quick glance at the calendar says fall has arrived. If you’re ready to celebrate the idea of a cool, crisp autumn, we’ve uncovered a quintessential dessert to kick-start the season.
Coup des Tartes, the romantic little French enclave on 16th Street near Camelback Road, is celebrating the fall harvest with a new seasonal menu, which includes the addition of a warm, rustic apple tart ($9). One bite of this refined, provincial creation and you’ll want to snuggle up in front of a fire, even though it’s still too hot to even light a match.
Jessica Wick, who has worked at Coup des Tartes for the past three years, is “the creative force behind all our desserts,” says owner Ron Pacioni. Some desserts instantly transport you to another place and time, something Wick had in mind when envisioning this dessert. The warm combination of spicy cinnamon, tart apples and crunchy pecans is reminiscent of simpler times, cozy kitchens and family – something the longtime staff at Coup des Tartes considers themselves to be.
“It’s a bit nostalgic, I guess,” Wick says. “I’ve used very simple ingredients – apples and pecans – and make everything from scratch, using mostly local and organic ingredients.”
The apple tart may seem uncomplicated at first glance, but Wick spends hours perfecting each component. She tweaks the tender shortbread crust so it rises above the tart pan, creating a craggy backdrop for the rich cream cheese custard, which, in turn, creates a pillowy mound for a layer of cinnamon-bathed Granny Smith apples and toasted pecans. Some of the thinly sliced apples curl up seductively, with lovely browned edges from the heat of the oven.
Devouring a slice of Wick’s tart is a heck of a lot easier than bobbing for apples, and far more satisfying.