WORTH THE TRIP : CHOCOLATE ECLAIRS

(By Kathryn Norwood For The Washington Post)

Those who are lucky enough to have sampled eclairs made by French hands will recognize the mastery of the delicate specimens served at Lille Patisserie in Herndon. Chef Cenk Akca's five-bite treats are filled with just the right amount of vanilla pastry creme, sandwiched between airy layers of pâte à choux and generously topped with a chocolate ganache, using a method he learned from his French mama. His Chocolate Eclairs ($3.71) and cream puffs ($1.75) can be boxed for the ride home; ask for at least one to be bagged separately as a driver's reward.

Lille Patisserie, 2451 I-9 Centreville Rd., Herndon, 703-793-2787; http://www.4lille.com.

-- Leanne Guido

Know of a dish that's worth the trip? E-mailfood@washpost.com; be sure to include "Worth" in the subject field.