le Pain au Naturel

On a Sunday morning amid the bustle of shopping at Marché d'Aligre,

this street scene in front of the boulangerie features individual characters

in the daily routine:

The queue of shoppers at the entrance,

 the table of breads on the sidewalk,

a young French girl on her trottinette,

a baker delivering fresh baguettes from the oven.

What you miss are the aromas of the bread and the oysters just across the narrow street

and the hawking of  produce in the sing-song of many different languages.

le Pain au Naturel

rue Théophile Roussel

75012

 

Eric Kayser

Eric Kayser

There are so many amazing pastries in Paris, 

but this boulangerie/pâtisserie is a favorite.

For many years my daughter and I stayed just around the corner 

and could smell the baguette ovens

from our beds in the early morning hours.  

Eric Kayser's orignal store is here on rue Monge, 

and if you are nearby you should definitely 

have a "baguette Monge."

The lemon tarts are pretty tasty, too

miam-miam!

Eric Kayser

8, rue Monge

75005, Paris

Poilâne - un repas simple

Poilâne

All that is needed for a simple meal...

Ah, I can almost smell the aroma 

of bread baking in the wood-fired ovens,

in my mind at least.

Poilâne

8, rue du Cherche-Midi

75006, Paris

Poilâne

Poilâne

 Deep under the street, the Poilâne wood-burning ovens 

scent the air with the smell of baking bread.  

I can close my eyes and recall the delicious aroma 

of early mornings on Rue du Cherche-Midi.

"... mark it with a 'P' and put it in the oven

for baby and me"

Poilâne

8, rue du Cherche-Midi

75006, Paris

 

Patisserie reflet - Le Moulin de la Vierge

Le Moulin de la Vierge

Although there are several of these boulangeries in Paris, 

this is the original shop with its wood-fired ovens.

It is worth a trip to Rue Vercingétorix

to gaze at the original tiles and mirrors,

etched glass doors, all

unchanged over the past century. 

bon weekend

Le Moulin de la Vierge

104, rue Vercingétorix

75014, Paris

Métro Pernety

Moulins Burgeois - un camion de livraison

Moulins Bourgeois

"A miller, and much more"

Coming out of Eric Kayser one morning we found these friendly delivery men bringing in the heavy sacks of flour from Moulins Bourgeois.  We asked permission for their photos and I was fascinated by the source of the flour which is transformed into the indescribable pastries and breads of Eric Kayser and other pâtisseries/boulangeries.

The company was established in 1895 in Verdelot and today continues to produce "classic bread-making flour, traditional French flour, gruel and flour from the USA, stone ground and organic flour."  With a staff of 80 people they serve a customer base of artisan bakeries, both within 200 km of the mill and Internationally to Europe and Asia.  

At home, would I notice a flour delivery to a bakery I frequented?

Probably not, unless it was Eric Kayser, John-Paul Hévin, Julien, Pierre Hermé, Dalloyau, Ladurée, La Petite Rose, Pâtisserie des Rêves, Stohrer, Coqueliqot.... just too many to name

Eric Kayser

8, rue Monge

75005, Paris

Boulangerie aux Castelblangeois - un régal pour l'oeil

Boulangerie aux Castelblangeois

Just before anyone considers a New Year's resolution 

regarding the consumption of delicious desserts, 

gaze one last time at these beauties.

Actually, there are no calories when feasting with the eyes.

miam-miam

Boulangerie aux Castelblangeois

104, rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine

75012, Paris

Métro Ledru-Rolin

Un grand macaron de framboise!

A large raspberry macaron!

Macarons are a challenge to make with careful attention 

to the humidity, the age of the eggs, the balance of heat in the oven, 

the phase of the moon.

However, I cannot imagine

 how many attempts it would take 

in order to get a perfect one of this size.  

At least the failures become "family macarons" 

and no one complains!

(just kidding about the phase of the moon)

Boulangerie aux Castelblangeois

104, rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine

75012, Paris

Poilâne - du pain au four

Poilâne

In the depths of Poilâne's this baker is removing 

the signature loafs encrusted with a scrolling "P"

from the wood-burning oven.

 

 

Merci beaucoup, Virginia!

 

 

bon weekend

 

 

 



Poilâne

8, rue du Cherche-Midi

75006, Paris



Eric Kayser - Brioche Mousseline

Eric Kayser

Brioche Mousseline

Want to share one of these?

miam-miam!

Eric Kayser

14, rue Monge

75005, Paris

blé sucré - miam-miam

blé sucré

blé sucré is relatively new on the Paris bakery scene when one considers the legends of Ladurée and Pierre Hermé.  Founded by patissier Fabrice Le Bourdat, the list of temptations is long.  The quality is high and yet the prices are not.  So, what should you choose?

pain au chocolat, madeleine, and financier

Still hungry?

 éclair, croissant, chaussons aux pommes

More?

How about an assortment of macarons

 

 

blé sucré

7, rue Antoine Vollon

Métro Ledru Rollin

75012 Paris