I love Paris Baguette every moment of the year. (Wait for the website photos to load – it's worth it.)
Before you go, be mindful of Paris Baguette etiquette. The plexiglass drawers, carefully covered floor-mounted display shelves, and stacks of pre-unfolded and paper-lined pastry boxes comprise a self-service system that's convenient for those on the run. This method has obliterated the need to wait for harried employees to handle the delicate pastries. Instead it's all on you, buddy. You break, you buy.
Be sure to hold onto your tongs and return them to the "used tongs" container at the register, where you'll also be handed your pastry box cover. These special touches, along with the creamy cakes with all sides wrapped in protective mylar or plastic to ensure no human hand touches the edible surfaces, are every OCD victim's dream.
The other thing that wins me over is the motto. I have to admire any business that has a mission statement as sincere and ambitious at Paris Baguette's.
We serve delicious sandwich with fresh seasonal vegetable which gives you full of life.
They might want to rethink pushing that concept, however, since sandwiches aren't the main draw at this shiny happy place on Western Ave. I go for the stacks of un-French delights like red bean breads, chocolate chip cookies, and spongey green tea cakes with whipped cream frosting, and the stacked drawers loaded with traditional croissants, pain au raisin, and pain au chocolat. Yesterday I picked up what I describe as a "fishtail" with chocolate laced through the braided pastry dough.
They go a little overboard on the glazing with the vienoisserie, but otherwise the butter-laden goods have the flakiness and lightness I want at a price that makes me wonder how they're turning a profit. Just don't take this place lightly.
Paris Baguette
125 N. Western Ave. (approx. 1 block south of Beverly)
Los Angeles 90004
323.467.0404
DATE: 05/19/2006 07:26:50 AM
this is one of the weirdest places i've been to. the pastries are awesome when not filled with red bean wackiness. the tong protocol was confounding at first, but i have grown to love the formality. their coffee blows but i love their tasty croissants.
Posted by: shosho | February 07, 2008 at 03:05 PM