Bread and “our” Boulangeries in France

Bread, usually a baguette, is a very important part of lunches and dinners in France.  Whether one is dining in a café, restaurant, or at home, bread is on the table.  It is not unusual to see a waiter hurrying out a café back door to a local boulangerie and returning a few minutes later with an armful of baguettes.  We also often see a customer in a boulangerie picking up a huge flour sack full of baguettes and then signing for them in a notebook.  When we are in France, we tend to observe some French customs – in particular, we have bread with our meals.  A baguette – bien sûr!

Baguettes can be purchased in grocery stores, but THE place to get bread is at a boulangerie.  Our favorite three boulangeries are all a short walk away from our apartment. 

Boulangerie des 5 Sens

The first is right across the street, the Boulangerie des 5 Sens.  We often enjoy their fresh croissants for breakfast, and their baguettes are also good.  (A side note – we’ve found that baguettes are slightly different in texture and crust at each boulangerie.)  There’s nothing quite like hurrying across the street with a warm, delicious-smelling baguette in hand!

Le Fournil de L'artisan

The second is Le Fournil de L'artisan, just around the corner and down Cour Lafayette a couple of blocks.  This one is actually a favorite breakfast place for us.  We like to get our café crèmes and pastries and sit on stools at a small table while we discuss plans for the day and watch the scenery on the street and in the bakery.  We have been frequenting this boulangerie long enough and often enough to become known by sight by the very pleasant baker/proprietor and the counter staff.   In fact, when we went in this morning, we were greeted with big smiles and our server recited our usual order to us!  Anna particularly likes their chausson aux pommes (French apple turnovers); she has decided theirs are the best she has tasted.  (David prefers their pain aux raisins also!)

chausson aux pommes - delicious!

We also often get baguettes and desserts here.  Anna popped in one Saturday just at closing time to buy a baguette, the lady behind the counter put two, rather than one, in a bag for her, then she and the baker looked at each other and refused payment.  They both smiled as she told Anna the baguettes were gatuit because they were closing.  Needless to say, it’s easy to be a loyal customer with that kind of recognition and treatment!

Interior of Chez Jules - Brotteaux

And, the third is Chez Jules - Brotteaux.  Yes, Chez Jules is a chain, but the quality and variety of their products is great.  AND, it’s open on Sunday – when no other place around us is.  It’s a little farther away from our apartment, but not that far, and we are often out strolling in that area.  It’s a great place to stop for a café and pastry – not to mention a handy place to pick up a baguette and dessert.

With such good boulangeries with delicious breads and pastries nearby, it would be a sin not to take advantage of the situation.  Right?  At least that's what we think.  Just another reason to enjoy our life in France!